Live streaming is currently becoming more and more popular, and the number of viewers on Twitch and YouTube is constantly increasing. Since the pandemic, people have been increasingly watching Twitch or YouTube, but the increase in the number of users on Twitch and YouTube was already evident in the years before.
For many, streaming may still be an unknown hobby of young people because, for those of the older generations, this is a completely new medium with everything that makes a new medium. There are already more than enough stars in the streamer scene, for example, the Casino Streamer Roshtein or the popular FIFA streamer DiboFifa.
These have thousands of viewers and are now making a living from live streaming. So there is more to this phenomenon than just the leisure activity of many people. The viewer numbers alone indicate that this is something big. What exactly streaming is and why it is becoming more and more popular, you will learn in this article.
What exactly is live streaming?
Streaming is the instantaneous transmission of a specific event over the Internet. Platforms such as Twitch or YouTube are used for this purpose. The streaming providers enable the streamers to transmit their content directly and live to the Internet, where everyone can watch the streams.
All that’s needed is an account with the providers, and you’re ready to go. The fact that so many young people use streaming as entertainment has to do with the content of the streams, but more on that later. Any content can be transmitted, but care must be taken to ensure that the stream shows age-appropriate content for the audience. The transmission channel can also be freely selected, so it is possible to stream from the PC, the console, or even the smartphone via Twitch.
What can you see in the live streams?
On Twitch, the content of the streams is primarily geared towards video games. That’s why the audience is made up of more young viewers—the streamers film themselves playing a particular computer game. At the same time, they comment on their own game and try to bring the viewers along with them.
Furthermore, it doesn’t matter whether the streamers are good at the particular game or not. Most of the streamers use other ways to attract their viewers. Sure, there are streams that are watched because the streamer plays the game very well. However, this is not necessarily the deciding factor.
Besides video games, there are streams on actually every topic imaginable. At the moment, it seems to be a trend to film yourself as a streamer in an inflatable pool. The ideas certainly don’t seem to be running out in the streaming world. Live streaming is now its own culture with its own stars and its own rules. It’s not uncommon in live streams for viewers to misbehave and post offensive content in the chat.
In this case, there are so-called moderators who monitor the chat for a streamer. They can ban the offending viewer. Then it is no longer possible to watch the stream and write something in the chat until the ban is lifted again.
Like everywhere else in social media, there are many inappropriate viewers on Twitch and YouTube streams who are simply trying to spread hate and harm others. So far, however, the ban system is working quite well.
How do streamers make money?
Every streamer tries to build as large a following as possible. On Twitch, users can follow the streamer, then the stream’s reach increases. Users can also subscribe to a streamer, which costs the viewer just under five euros.
This money is then passed on to the streamer in parts. With this method, the streamers, as well as the platform, earn money. Another way to monetize the stream is through donations from viewers. They can pay up to a certain maximum amount directly to the streamer via Paypal or credit card.
The streamer then receives almost the entire amount of the donated money. So as a successful streamer, you can live quite well. A big advantage for the streamer is that the fans on Twitch and YouTube are very loyal. Once a community has been built up, streamers can be sure that viewers will buy a subscription again next month.
Those who subscribe to a streamer have certain advantages over other viewers. In some streams, paying viewers have the option to send emojis or wish for songs to be played in the stream. However, the most important tool on Twitch and YouTube is the chat.
In some streams, everyone is allowed to write in the chat, and in others, only the subscribers. The streamer then responds to almost all the messages sent, which means that there is direct communication with the fans. In any case, with live streams, it is possible for anyone to join in and start their own stream.
Within a very short time, high viewer numbers and a corresponding income can be generated. That’s why live streaming is also a profitable business for streamers and can mean a long-term job.
Why is live streaming so popular now?
The reasons for the hype around live streaming are manifold, as shown above. Mainly, it is the interaction with the stars of the scene who react to messages from the users. This participation distinguishes streaming from all other media.
Until now, it has never been possible to participate so directly in a medium. The reward for the fans is therefore decisive for paying a streamer monthly money to watch his content. The variety of content is another reason for the enormous popularity of streaming platforms. The perfect stream can be found for every taste.
The content ranges from simple computer games to philosophical lectures paired with discussions on the topic. Streaming is also a lucrative business on the part of the streamers because they can pursue their jobs from home and choose for themselves what they do in the stream. Viewer numbers in the hundreds of thousands are no longer a rarity on YouTube and Twitch Streams, and the trend doesn’t seem to be stopping so far.
It will be exciting to see how live streaming will develop in the future. So far, streamers have always found a way to find new content that pleases their fans.
