What is “backseating” on Twitch?

In the context of Twitch streams, “backseating” or “backseat gaming” refers to a breach of Twitch etiquette where a chatter gives a streamer information or advice about the game they’re playing that they do not want. Examples of backseating include:

• Giving unsolicited tips or hints
• Giving unsolicited advice on how to play
• Giving unsolicited explanations of the game’s mechanics, especially hidden mechanics
• Giving unsolicited explanations of the game’s lore, especially plot spoilers
• Revealing secrets or Easter eggs in the game, or guiding the streamer toward them
• Telling a streamer where to find hidden items
• Telling a streamer how to solve a puzzle
• Revealing information about what’s coming up in a game, such as boss battles, new items, new game mechanics, or plot spoilers
• Hinting or foreshadowing about what’s coming up in a game
• Anything that ruins or lessens the surprise that a streamer would naturally experience if they were playing the game offline on their own
• Telling the streamer what to do in the game or how to play
• Criticizing the streamer for their choices in the game or the quality of their play
• Attempting to influence the streamer with any knowledge or information you have from playing the game or from looking up guides online

Before doing any of the above, please check the streamer’s policy on backseating. If they have the “nobackseating” tag on their stream, if they have a chat rule against backseating, or if they verbally say they don’t want backseating, please refrain from any of these behaviours.

By default, you should assume that backseating isn’t allowed. You should only engage in backseating after you’ve been given explicit permission.

When in doubt, ask the streamer before providing hints, tips, advice, or information. If they decline your offer of help, respect that no means no and drop the issue.

Streamers will often ask themselves questions out loud, such as, “How am I supposed to beat this guy?” or “Wait, where am I supposed to go now?” Typically, they are not asking chat to weigh in and don’t want any help. If you aren’t sure, you can ask them if they want a hint. If they say no, please don’t keep asking. If the streamer wants help from chat, they can ask for it explicitly.

If you’re not sure how to avoid backseating, pretend like you’ve never played the game before and don’t know the first thing about it. Act as if you’re seeing the game for the first time. Any information you have because you played the game before that you convey to the streamer could potentially be considered backseating. Be cautious about conveying any information of this kind.

Many gamers find that backseating detracts from their enjoyment of a game and backseating is widely considered disrespectful for this reason.

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