Without a doubt, Twitch has taken the gaming world by storm. What started life as a relatively small platform for gamers to share their gameplay with friends, has turned into a global phenomenon! But what is it about the platform that has made it so popular? In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the reasons behind its success, and explore the controversial side of the hosting giant.
So, What Is [Twitch]?
At its core, Twitch is a live streaming video platform – founded in June 2011. The idea for the site came about when its co-founders Justin Kan and Emmett Shear were trying to find a way to share their gaming experiences with friends.
Since then, it has grown exponentially. It’s now up there as one of the most popular websites in the States and is available in over 190 countries! Over 100 million people use the site every month and it’s estimated that there are over two million unique streamers on the platform.
Why Is Twitch So [Popular]?
Firstly, it’s a super user-friendly platform that’s easy to use and navigate. Secondly, it offers a variety of content for viewers to watch, from gaming and esports to IRL (in real life) streams. And thirdly, it has a strong community feel, with many users interacting and engaging with each other on a daily basis. For most involved, the community side is what keeps the platform ticking!
But what really sets it apart from other streaming platforms is its interactivity. Viewers can directly interact with streamers via chat rooms, and they can also donate money to their favourite streamers through the use of virtual “tips”. This interaction creates a sense of connection between viewers and streamers, which is one of the key reasons why Twitch is so popular.
How Does It [Work]?
Twitch allows users to broadcast their gameplay or themselves (in real life) to an audience of viewers. Streamers can also create highlight reels, which are recorded clips of their streams that viewers can watch at any time (VOD).
How Do I [Access] Twitch?
Twitch is available on a variety of platforms, including desktop (Windows and Mac), mobile (iOS and Android) and gaming consoles (Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo).
To access it, head over to the website (twitch.tv), download the app or sign up for a free account. Once you have an account, you can start streaming your own content or watching other people’s streams.
What’s The Purpose Of [Streams]?
The purpose of streams is to entertain and engage an audience. And whilst most will associate the platform with gaming alone, there are a healthy bunch of creators streaming other activities such as cooking, art, or simply talking to their viewers.
Some streamers are signed to professional esports organizations and often compete in tournaments that are broadcasted on Twitch. Other streamers are just regular people enjoying gaming and sharing their experiences with others. We mean it when we say there’s literally something for everyone!
What Are The [Benefits]?
The platform offers a number of benefits for both viewers and streamers. For viewers, it’s a great place to watch their favourite gamers and creators and interact with them directly. For streamers, it’s a great way to build a community of fans and followers and to make some extra income through donations and sponsorships.
How Do [Partnerships] Work?
Partnerships are available to streamers who meet certain eligibility requirements and these partnerships give streamers access to a number of benefits, such as paid subscriptions, custom emotes, and access to exclusive chat rooms.
What Is The Twitch [Affiliate Program]?
The Affiliate Program is a way for non-partnered streamers to make some money from their streams. Similarly to partners, affiliates can earn revenue from things like subscriptions, ads, and donations but the majority of their revenue comes from their viewers. If you’re looking to support a streamer, donations are a great way to do this and we can assure you… it goes a long way!
What Are [Channel Points]?
Channel points are a relatively new feature on the site that allows viewers to earn points by watching streams and performing certain actions. These points can then be redeemed for a variety of different rewards, such as exclusive emotes and badges.
What Are [Bits]?
Bits are a virtual currency that can be used to support your favourite streamers and can be purchased in varying increments.
To purchase bits, you’ll need to link your Twitch account to your Amazon Prime account. Once you have done this, you can go to the “bits” section of the Twitch website and purchase bits with your Amazon Prime account.
What’s The [Prime] Subscription About?
The Prime subscription is a premium membership that gives users access to exclusive benefits. Some of these benefits include ad-free viewing, free in-game items, and a free monthly Twitch channel subscription.
The History Of [Emotes]?
Emotes are a way for viewers to interact with their favourite streamers and express themselves in chat. There are tons of different emotes, and they’re often used to indicate sarcasm or irony (in a polite way)!
The first Twitch emotes were created in 2012, and they’ve become increasingly popular over the years. In 2018, Twitch introduced a new set of emotes called “BTTV” which stands for “Better Twitch TV”. These emotes are available to all users, but they can only be used if you have the BTTV extension installed.
What Are Some Of The [Most Popular] Emotes?
Some of the most popular Twitch emotes include “Kappa”, “PogChamp”, “TriHex”, and “BibleThump”. Kappa is the most popular emote on Twitch, and it is often used to indicate sarcasm or irony. PogChamp is another popular emote, and it is often used to express excitement or disbelief. TriHex is a newer emote, and it is often used to show support for the competitive Halo community. BibleThump is an emote that is often used to express sadness or disappointment.
What Are [Twitch Extensions]?
Twitch Extensions are yet another interactive tool used by viewers and are a way to support streamers and the Twitch community. There are a variety of different extensions, such as the ability to donate, the ability to chat, and the ability to track your favourite creators.
What Are Some Of The Most Popular [Extensions]?
As mentioned above, some of the most popular extensions include Donate, Chat, Tracker, and Leaderboards. The Donate extension allows viewers to donate to their favourite streamers. The Chat extension allows viewers to chat with each other and the streamer. The Tracker extension allows viewers to track their favourite streamers. And the Leaderboards extension allows viewers to see who the top donors are.
What Are Some Of The Most Popular [Games]?
Land on the Twitch website and you’re likely to see some of the following games… Valorant, League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and Apex Legends.
Strategy and shoot ’em ups remain popular with audiences worldwide but the truth is, you’ll find a ludicrous amount of titles across the platform. A favourite of the Beyond team is Sea of Thieves. Whatever you’re into, whoever you’re into, show your support. Whether it’s for the game, streamer or community. Start watching today, and find your own enjoyment.
What Are Some Of The Most Popular [Streamers]?
Today’s popular Twitch streamers include Ninja, Pokimane and Myth. Between them, they stream – Fortnite, LoL and Valorant.
If you’re looking to follow someone fresh, why not check out the list of Beyond affiliates here. There’s nothing but variation and we’re certain you’ll find something entertaining to tune into on the regular.
What Are Some Of The Most Popular [Events]?
Throughout the platform’s history, we’ve seen many captivating events. From the likes of TwitchCon and ELeague Major to DreamHack. TwitchCon is an annual convention for Twitch users and streamers and is attended by thousands. ELeague Major is a CS:GO tournament organized by EA and Turner Broadcasting and attracts millions of viewers. And DreamHack is a gaming festival, held in different cities around the world.
What Are Some Of The Most Popular [Communities]?
This is what the platform was built on and where the platform thrives! A lot of the most popular communities surround the creative arts. A place where discussion is encouraged and all within are appreciated for the talents they possess. Not only that, but the conversation is usually easy-going and engaging.
How Do I Support My Favourite Streamer?
There are a few different ways that you can support your favourite streamer and let’s not beat around the bush. The most common way is to donate funds. This ensures your chosen streamer is able to continue with their passion, improve their setups, or better still, give up their day job for a full-time role on the platform.
Of course, donating isn’t for everyone and with today’s increasing cost of living here in the UK, it’s not always possible. So how do you support a creator without parting ways with hard-earned cash? Simple. Support them by following them on social media channels, watching their streams, and by sharing their content with others. Word of mouth is a powerful beast and awareness is key to a creator’s success. Show a little love by following and sharing their work. It’s the least you can do!
Does [Beyond NRG] Have A Twitch Account I Can Follow?
Yes! You can follow our Twitch account here: twitch.tv/beyondnrg. We often go live for product launches with exclusive content, teaming up with some of our favourite streamers.
Is There Anything Else Out There Like [Twitch]?
There are. However, Twitch is the clear leader in the gaming category. Twitch accounts for around 73% of all live streaming gaming content, while YouTube Gaming only accounts for approx. 27%. As the years roll by, other platforms are sure to emerge, and we’re excited to see what comes next in the world of broadcast gaming.
The [Dark Side] Of Twitch.
For all its positives, there is a dark side to Twitch. The platform has been criticized heavily in the past, for its lack of transparency when it comes to moderating content and dealing with harassment and hate speech. There have also been a number of high-profile cases of sexual harassment and assault involving Twitch streamers.
These issues have led to many users calling for change, and while Twitch has made some efforts to address these concerns, there is still a long way to go.
Why Was [Dr Disrespect] Banned?
On the 26th of June 2019, Dr Disrespect was banned from Twitch. The reason for the ban was never made publicly clear, but it is speculated that it was due to a privacy violation. This case only serves to highlight the lack of transparency from Twitch when it comes to moderating content and dealing with bans.
Twitch Removed The Famed [PogChamp] Emote In 2021.
In early 2021, Twitch removed the ‘PogChamp’ emote from their platform. The decision was made in response to the US Capitol Riots, as the emote’s face was that of Ryan “Gootecks” Gutierrez.
This came as a surprise to most, as PogChamp was one of the most popular emotes on Twitch and its removal was met with mixed reactions from the community. Shortly after, Twitch decided to bring back the emote, with a new streaming personality assuming the role of PogChamp every 24 hours.
Twitch Demonetized [Hot Tub Streamers] Before Relenting And Adding A Hot Tub Category.
In May 2021, Twitch came under fire for demonetizing hot tub streamers. The move was seen as sexist by many, as the vast majority of hot tub streamers were women.
After a public outcry, Twitch eventually relented and added a hot tub category. However, the damage had been done and the platform was once again under scrutiny for its treatment of women. As you can see, Twitch is far from perfect.
[Snoop Dogg] Gets Himself Muted For A Week.
It appeared, at the time, that Snoop had accidentally muted his streams for a solid week. But later transpired that Snoop – for good reason – had music playing in the background of his streams. This of course breaks the copyright music rules of Twitch and he was therefore muted.
Twitch Suffers A Severe [Data Breach].
In December 2021, Twitch suffered a severe data breach. This resulted in the personal information of over 100 million users being leaked. This included names, email addresses, IP addresses and dates of birth. The breach was a major black mark on Twitch’s already tarnished reputation and led to many users leaving the platform.
Conclusion.
Yet, despite all of its flaws, Twitch remains the most popular live streaming platform for gamers. It is home to some of the biggest names in the industry and has a vast and loyal following. Only time will tell if Twitch can address its many issues and continue to grow or if it will be replaced by a new platform. Until then, we’ll be watching.
What do you think of Twitch?
Do you think that the platform is doing enough to address the concerns of its users? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
