Something unusual occurred in the early part of 2020 in the world of video game streaming. Platforms like Twitch, Mixer, and YouTube Live were typically dominated by teenage and twentysomething males who fiercely protected their territory, harassing and targeting channels run by creators outside of their demographic. While Twitch has made efforts to combat stereotypes and create a safe and inclusive environment by enhancing security, introducing new stream categories, and enforcing community guidelines, talking to streamers at TwitchCon Paris reveals that the diversity and inclusiveness of the user-base can be attributed to a different factor – Covid.
Due to the lockdown measures in March 2020, people of all ages and backgrounds found themselves stuck at home with limited entertainment options and limited social contact. As a result, video game sales surged, and many players turned to streaming platforms to share their experiences. In 2021 alone, Twitch witnessed over 1,460 billion minutes of livestreamed content. Additionally, the number of streamers increased from 3.6 million in 2019 to 8.5 million during the peak of the Covid crisis.
During the pandemic, individuals like Victoria Adams, also known as MissVadams, who was training to be an opera singer before everything came to a halt, found streaming to be a creative outlet and eventually turned it into a full-time job. Molly Lynn, or MollyBerry, an old-school PC gamer who had worked in the aviation industry for 15 years, lost her job due to redundancy and saw streaming as an opportunity to reconnect with her passion for games while also finding her true self outside of the corporate environment.
For streamers, the surge in new audiences allowed them to feel more comfortable sharing personal details and truths. As Hannah Rutherford, or Lomadiah, shared her experience of being diagnosed with ADHD, she discovered a community of viewers who resonated with her story. Streamers like her worked against hate raids targeted at the LGBT community and took extra precautions to foster a welcoming and safe space for their viewers.
Streamers also recognized that they play a background role in the lives of their viewers. Many individuals working from home missed the social aspects of office life, and tuning into a Twitch stream provided the perfect combination of activity and social interaction. For instance, Matthew Ryan, or Lionhart, noticed that some viewers would have his stream playing on a second monitor while going about their day and would drop in to say hello or chat briefly. These viewers felt like a part of the community even if they weren’t actively engaged in chat.
However, in this era of intimate and honest streaming, streamers face challenges in setting boundaries. Due to the parasocial nature of the relationship between streamers and viewers, where viewers may see the streamer as a friend but enjoy the anonymity of the internet, streamers like Kristýna Fišerová, also known as GhostArya, find it necessary to be cautious. While moderators and Twitch’s Shield Mode can help maintain a safe chat environment, the expanding audience for game streams tends to be more supportive and protective of the streamer’s well-being.
Disabled creators like Lauren Radford, or Radderss, found streaming as an opportunity to build communities where they could openly discuss their disabilities without fear of judgment. In the past, disabled streamers often refrained from disclosing their disabilities due to potential trolling and negativity. However, with increased openness, these streamers created communities that are understanding and supportive, cultivating a sense of belonging for those with disabilities or neurodiversity.
While the upper echelons of Twitch are still dominated by young male gamers showcasing their skills, there is a broader range of communities created by diverse individuals, including older people, queer people, and disabled people. These communities, which have always existed but have found a way to connect with new peers during the pandemic, offer a sense of connection and understanding. Ultimately, for many streamers, it’s not about the number of viewers but the impact they have on someone’s life and the connections they make.