Twitch Military Recruitment Controversy | Know Your Meme

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Overview

Twitch Military Recruitment refers to the controversy surrounding the U.S. Army’s, Navy’s and Air Force’s use of Twitch as a recruitment tool via their esports teams. In July 2020, several U.S. military branches faced backlash and scrutiny online for using Twitch to recruit potential service members, including the use of advertising fake giveaways that redirected people to recruitment forms. The controversy was widely reported on by numerous media outlets and discussed across social media platforms.

Background

In early July 2020, political activist Jordan Uhl reported the use of the U.S. military’s esports teams on Twitch as a form of recruitment. On July 8th, during a Call of Duty stream on the U.S. Army esports team’s channel, Uhl posed the question, “What’s your favorite us war crime?” and received a ban shortly after from Army recruiter and gamer Joshua “Strotnium” David. The clip was shared to Twitter by independent journalist Rod “Slasher” Breslau (seen below), receiving over 9,800 likes and 1,500 retweets and comments. While the Army claimed that it banned Uhl due to breaking Twitch’s policy on harassment, Vice later reported that civil rights lawyers said the Army may have violated the First Amendment for banning viewers asking questions during the stream.

On July 15th, Uhl reported in an article published by The Nation that “The U.S. military is using online gaming to recruit teens,” which covered their use of giveaway’s that redirected viewers to a recruitment form. The story was shared to Uhl’s Twitter account that day (shown below), where it received over 8,300 likes and 3,900 retweets.


jordan @JordanUhl The Army esports team routinely points viewers as young as 13 to this page with "Register To Win!" at the top in all caps. In some cases, they claim you can win a $200 controller. The form is actually a recruiting form. thenation.com/article/cultur... CAREERS AND JOBS DENEFITS HOE > EQESTIrORMATION A REGISTER TO WIN! FIll out this form to receive answers to questions you may have about the Army, and a recruiter will be in touch to help you out shortly: no commitment necessary. ALL FIELDS ARE REQUIRED FIRST NAME II Text Font Screenshot Line Website

Developments

Online Reactions

Over the course of July 2020, users online widely discussed the controversy across social media platforms and websites, as well as several media outlets, including Mashable, The Verge, PC Gamer and many others.

On July 17th, Twitter user CrypticNoOne tweeted about the event and said, “They trying to recruit bunch of 12 year olds that just want a gaming PC,” receiving over 24,200 likes and 1,800 retweets and comments (seen below). On July 21st, Twitter user PushDustIn also tweeted about the controversy and stated, “The US Army and Navy shouldn’t be on @Twitch at all,” receiving over 5,200 likes and 1,000 retweets.


Cryptic @CrypticNoOne They trying to recruit bunch of 12 year olds that just want a gaming PC Text Font Line Logo

On July 17th, Twitch announced that it was blocking the Army’s use of using fake giveaways as a recruitment tool, which was covered by numerous media outlets, including IGN. That day, Redditor auscrisos posted IGN’s article to the /r/technology subreddit, receiving nearly 30,000 upvotes and 1,000 comments. Twitter user and reporter Ken Klippenstein tweeted about the blocking and said, “With one troll, @jordanuhl single-handedly got the Pentagon to change its Twitch recruitment polices lol,” receiving over 4,900 likes and 600 retweets and comments (shown below).


Ken Klippenstein @kenklippenstein With one troll, @jordanuhl single-handedly got the Pentagon to change its Twitch recruitment polices lol वि Mount Twitch Forces U.S. Army To Stop Tricking Viewers With Fake Giveaways The U.S. Army has a Twitch channel that it uses to fish for potential recruits. Last week, it came under fire for issuing bans to viewers who . S kotaku.com Text

On July 22nd, several media outlets and reporters shared that due to increasing pressure from backlash, the army was pausing its social media and Twitch usage. New York Times reporter Taylor Lorenz covered the development and shared her article on Twitter, receiving over 2,000 likes and 400 retweets. Rod “Slasher” Breslau also tweeted that day and said, “sources tell me due to recent media coverage of fake giveaways and potentially unconstitutional bans, the US Army esports team has paused social activity,” receiving over 10,000 likes and 1,200 retweets (seen below).


Rod Breslau @Slasher new: sources tell me due to recent media coverage of fake giveaways and potentially unconstitutional bans, the US Army esports team has paused social activity, streaming on Twitch, and official activations with Twitch including participating in upcoming Twitch Rivals events Text Font Line

On July 22nd, Vice reported that U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez planned “to file a measure that would prevent the military from using video games and esports as military recruitment tools.”

Search Interest

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External References

Source: https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/events/twitch-military-recruitment-controversy

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