Streaming - a new trend? 👾👾
What is it?
As the internet is used more and more for online
entertainment, we are finding new ways to create content
and even create new careers online, such as becoming an
influencer on social media platforms such as TikTok and
Instagram. But what exactly is streaming?
A streamer is someone who broadcasts themselves live for
others to watch and chat with them. It is a fun way
to join a community of people who are interested in the same
things as you - whether that be gaming, gardening, fitness,
and more!
Where can I watch a stream?
Some game-streaming platforms include:
On these platforms, gaming streams are the most popular. Your choices of games are endless!
So... people play games as a job? How do I do that?!
In short, yes! However, it isn’t as easy and simple as it may seem.
You have to dedicate a lot of time to being consistent and
engaging with your audience if you want to gain followers.
It sounds strange, but you have to schedule hours out of your
day to play games! This can be tricky if you have other
responsibilities, and it can take a long time before you
are able to stream full time.
In addition, sometimes getting the best streaming equipment
for a very high-quality stream can be expensive. Therefore
streamers welcome subscriptions and donations, which also
give you perks as a viewer such as badges and effects next
to your name in chat!
The current state of streaming
At the moment the streaming career is dominated by mostly straight white men, but this is slowly starting to change as more minority streamers - such as women of colour and LGBTQ+ streamers - gain the recognition and promotion they deserve.
Recently there has been an increase in the amount of online abuse that minority streams have been receiving, which can go unnoticed by more popular streamers who are unaffected. As a result minority streamer communities have become closer to support each other and rally for change, such as the prevention of sending offensive messages in chat.
By eliminating abusive trolls and creating safe spaces for minority streamers, we can encourage a diverse range of new followers to enrich the streaming community.
What about you?
Would you ever consider becoming a streamer?
