Kick

[[File:Kick_logo.svg|right|180px|thumb|The Kick logo.]]
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'''Kick''' (est. 2022) is an infamous [[gambling]] and [[cryptocurrency]]-funded<ref>{{cite web | last=Liao | first=Shannon | title=Top Twitch creator endorses platform connected to crypto gambling site | website=The Washington Post | date=2022-12-07 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2022/12/06/trainwrecks-kick-gambling-stake/ | access-date=2026-01-06}}</ref> [[alt-tech|alternative]] to the popular streaming service {{w|Twitch (service)|Twitch|,}} founded by the CEOs of the online casino {{w|Stake (online casino)|Stake|.}} Kick has garnered quite the reputation for hosting people considered to be too unpalatable even for Twitch.<ref name="smh">{{cite web | last=Begley | first=Patrick | title=Kick: Streaming giant criticised as 'playground for degenerates' | website=The Sydney Morning Herald | date=2024-05-02 | url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/a-playground-for-degenerates-the-dark-corners-of-an-australian-streaming-giant-20240425-p5fmk4.html | access-date=2026-01-06}}</ref> Notable streamers on the site include [[Andrew Tate]] afficionado {{w|Adin Ross||,}}<ref>{{cite web | title=Streamer Adin Ross Finally Opens Up About His Relation With Andrew Tate, After The Ex-Kickboxer's Recent Detention | website=EssentiallySports | date=2023-01-06 | url=https://www.essentiallysports.com/esports-news-i-have-a-genuine-bond-and-friendship-with-him-streamer-adin-ross-finally-opens-up-about-his-relation-with-andrew-tate-after-the-ex-kickboxers-recent-detention/amp/ | ref={{sfnref|EssentiallySports|2023}} | access-date=2026-01-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=D'Anastasio | first=Cecilia | title=Twitch's New Streaming Rival Kick Tests Waters of Lighter Moderation | website=Bloomberg.com | date=2023-03-03 | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2023-03-03/twitch-s-new-video-game-streaming-rival-kick-goes-light-on-moderation | access-date=2026-01-06}}</ref> gambling addict {{w|xQc||,}}<ref>{{cite web | last=Young | first=Rory | title=Twitch Streamer xQc Admits He Has a Gambling Addiction | website=Game Rant | date=2022-04-26 | url=https://gamerant.com/twitch-streamer-xqc-gambling-addiction/ | access-date=2026-01-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Browning|first=Kellen|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/16/business/twitch-kick-xqc.html|title=Twitch Star xQc Signs $100 Million Deal With Kick, a Rival Platform|website=[[New York Times]]|date=June 16, 2023}}</ref> and [[looksmaxxing]] guru {{w|Clavicular||.}}

==How is Kick different from Twitch?==
Kick was a small start-up in a field dominated by Twitch, and they obviously had to distinguish themselves ''from'' Twitch in order to generate growth. Kick did so by "innovating" in several key areas. One thing they did was offer creators an "unprecedented 95-5 revenue split" in contrast to Twitch's much-criticized 50-50 revenue split. Kick also attracts clients by having a ''much'' looser moderation structure than Twitch.<ref name="shah">{{cite web | last=Shah | first=Saqib | title=What is Kick? Twitch streamers moving to rival platform | website=The Standard | date=2023-08-14 | url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/gaming/kick-twitch-streamers-moving-rival-platform-b1100611.html | access-date=2026-01-06}}</ref>

==Content==
While the company ''officially'' prohibits "[[nudity]], [[hate speech]], violent conduct, [[doxxing]], fraud, and a variety of other actions,"<ref name="shah"/><ref>{{cite web | last= | first= | title=Kick Community Guidelines | website=Kick | date=2025-06-14 | url=https://kick.com/community-guidelines | access-date=2026-01-12}}</ref> one should take this with several heaping grains of salt.<ref name="smh"/> Kick is infamous for hosting all sorts of malcontents on its platform, including sex predators.<ref name="smh"/> Kick justifies this hellscape with invocations to [[free speech]] and exhortations against [[cancel culture]].<ref name="smh"/>

Kick is also notorious for its gambling content, with Kick itself having been founded by casino owners after Twitch banned gambling advertisements on their platform. Adin Ross himself has stated that he is "contractually obligated" to gamble on his streams.<ref name="smh"/>

==External links==
*{{wpa|Kick (service)|Kick}}

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

[[Category:Alt-tech]]
[[Category:Australia]]
[[Category:Cryptocurrency]]
[[Category:Libertarianism]]
[[Category:Video games]]
[[Category:Webshites]]

Categories: Alt-tech, Australia, Cryptocurrency, Libertarianism, Video games, Webshites