Twitch streaming has turned out to be a job that so many people want, badly. It's understandable — on the surface, it seems like sitting down to play your favorite games while socializing with hundreds of people who love and support you. For the most part, this can even be true if you have a good community and some money for equipment to dedicate to such an ambitious self-employed career!
But there are downsides to being a streamer, and they come in the form of rude or invasive viewers. Not everyone is like this, but there's definitely some things viewers tend to do that can seriously frustrate the streamer. Here are the ten worst offences. If you've ever been guilty of these, stop!
10 Hit On The Streamer
It's not okay to hit on the streamer. This isn't Tinder. They're here because they want to share their love of a game, not because they're looking for people to flirt with them. For some, this is their actual occupation rather than a hobby, so you're essentially flirting with someone who is at work. There are many reasons this isn't okay, but the main one is that they me feel unable to say "no" harshly because they have an image to keep up, so you may be putting them in an awkward situation.
Do not hit on the Twitch streamer. You're on the wrong app for that.
9 Monopolize The Chat
Whether through spam or constantly turning the conversation back towards you, it's not okay to monopolize the chat. Everyone is here because they like the streamer and want to create a community, so if you spam the chat or force the conversation to revolve around you, other people don't get a fair look in.
We get it — you want your fave streamer to notice you! But do you want it to be for the wrong reasons? Because you were too busy preening to be welcoming of new, potentially shy people? Make friends, and see if they notice you that way.
8 Don't Observe Boundaries
It could be something as simple as pestering them to add you on social media. Worse still, it could be going as far as cyber-stalking them to the point of finding their home address. Some extremely famous Twitch streamers and YouTubers have dealt with fans showing up at their house, presumably because they think they have a connection with the streamer and deem it to be okay.
You may think you know the streamer, but this person doesn't know you, and turning up uninvited to their house is not okay! Neither is adding them on personal social media without permission.
7 Think The Streamer Owes Them Something
The nice thing about Twitch is that you can choose to donate 'bits', and choose your subscription tier. You choose how much you support the streamer.
That's just it. You choose. Not them.
This doesn't mean you're entitled to anything, including their friendship. This is their job, potentially, so if you want to support them, do it purely because you want to support them. Anything else may lead to disappointment and resentment, and that's not their fault.
6 Constantly Criticize The Gameplay
Constructive criticism is often fine (depending on the streamer), but if you spend all of your time during their streams sitting in the chat explaining why they suck — why are you here? They don't want to listen to you talk about how their aim sucks in Overwatch, or how their skill checks suck in Dead By Daylight.
There's also the fact that a lot of people are watching, and they may be under some pressure and playing more poorly than usual! Even if they aren't, it doesn't give any viewer the right to verbally abuse them in the chat.
5 Constantly Ask To Join The Game
Sometimes, streamers will ask viewers if they'd like to join a multiplayer game and play with them. It's a sweet gesture, but the more popular streamers shy away from this for many potential reasons — maybe they don't want someone feeling left out, maybe they don't want to communicate with people they don't know very well... whatever. All reasons are valid. Therefore, do not badger a streamer to let you join a game. They will invite people in on their own time, if they want to. And if they don't, that's okay and their choice! It's their channel.
4 Complain About Their Schedule Or Choice Of Game
Streamers just want to do what they love, so there's no point in complaining about their choice of game — pick another stream, with a game you love! Unless they ask for suggestions, of course, then feel free to deliver.
It's also not okay to criticize their schedule unless they ask what suits everyone. Timezones and work schedules mean that no time is going to work for everyone. Chances are, they're doing the best they can.
3 Be Rude To Other Viewers
Being rude to other viewers is immature at best and cruel at worst. It's not going to impress a streamer who's doing their best to create a welcoming environment for everyone. They're going to notice you in the worst way possible, and you may even get banned. If you're being abusive to others in the community, then you're missing the point of Twitch entirely.
2 Make Very Forceful Requests
If viewers do ask for suggestions, don't be forceful and keep spamming them with the same one. If there's a game you'd love to see them play, it may not be for them, so if they don't get around to it... it's fine. Not the end of the world. Viewers have been known to push their requests relentlessly, and it's another boundary-crossing that most streamers won't appreciate. It doesn't get you noticed, it makes you look entitled.
1 Ask To Collab
Some streamers are open to collabs, and that's great! Most will have an e-mail you can reach them at. Don't put them on the spot by asking to collab in the chat — they may feel pressured to say yes, and they may not want to.
And if they don't — that's okay! Not everyone has to be comfy with collabs at first, or even ever.