These streams for 4+ hours daily. They are even starting to steer away from traditional videos that are edited. Kids are a big part of engagement but there are also adults doing the same. So, why would people rather watch a livestream than a traditional video? They would because it allows them to build a trusting bond within a community based on common interests. Most parents do not know much about streams since they grew up with them. For parents who want to understand why their kid is so hooked, this information can be important to think about. Teachers and professors can also benefit from knowing why because they can understand the audience they are teaching. First, I am going to discuss the features that Twitch has that attract viewers, then, how COVID-19 affected people, and lastly, how the streamers contribute to the engagement of Twitch.
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chat. They are similar emojis but creators personally make their own for viewers to type in chat. This can be humorous for some because of the funny emotes that creators make. Some also have inside jokes so whenever something happens, they will reply with an emote. This is another way people can feel connected and comfortable.
Another feature is text-to-speech. With this, a viewer can donate and get anything they typed read out loud by a bot. It can be funny or something inspirational that everyone watching can hear. The feeling of being noticed is driven by this feature.
People who support the Twitch channels can earn badges. There are many but some of the badges are gained by being a long-term subscriber. You also have to pay monthly payments to stay a subscriber. The badges are displayed next to their names on chat (McCraw, 2023). You can get a new badge each month when subscribed. This makes more people want to stay subscribed to the channel.