Instagram Plus, Twitch Goes Xarth, TikTok x Cameo + Japanese Police Vtuber

Good day and welcome! Since my move last Monday, I haven't had reliable home internet yet, so I've felt a little bit like a fish out of water! I've captured what I could over the last week, but there may be some leftover news from this week in the next newsletter. Which brings me to an important question that I'd love a gut check on: There's been some big news updates that I haven't yet posted on TwitterX, Bluesky, Threads, etc., With them being ~1 week old at this point, do you think it's still worth posting, or does this newsletter covering them suffice? Quick vote here.

And with that, let's get into it!

🟪 TWITCH

• Twitch temporarily brought back its original design (April Fools' Day). They also used the Xarth name as an easter egg; it was a consideration for Twitch's original name.
• Twitchcon's website briefly displayed Featured Creators, but it was removed after I reported on it.
• New Badges: Cyclethon (Watch Time), Minecraft Baby Chick ($), NASA Artemis II (Watch Time), PUACL Finals ($), Mega Man ($), Borderlands ($)
• CommanderRoot released his Q1 2026 Twitch Stats. +3600 Partners is the biggest quarterly increase in Partners ever. Also, -228 staff is interesting. I'm assuming account cleanup or Amazon moves.

🟥 YOUTUBE

• YouTube has launched Gifts/Jewels in Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand, Taiwan, and Thailand. They were already available in the USA, Canada, and Korea.
• YouTube is launching Comments to Heart, which lets creators bulk-heart comments left on their videos. Essentially automating engagement... Dead Internet Theory becomes more real every day.
• YouTube has been testing AI summaries that replace video titles in the mobile app.

⬛ TIKTOK

• TikTok has partnered with Cameo to enable creators to create paid personalized videos within the app.
• TikTok has partnered with DAZN to livestream Serie A games.

🟦 OTHER STREAMERS

• Discord released foot decorations.
• Discord is launching Localized Pricing for Nitro, Server Boosts, and purchases from the Discord Shop.
• Own has added live streaming to its platform.
• LinkedIn will no longer allow spontaneous livestreams and will require them to be scheduled in advance, starting on June 22, 2026.