From gamer niche to mainstream media: Twitch’s most popular media figures and content

Abstract

This article presents the main features of the Spanish streamers with the most followers on Twitch, as well as their content. The aim of the research is to identify the streamers who hold the most appeal for young people on one of the social networks that has experienced the highest growth in recent years. To this end, based on the selection of the main profiles in terms of number of followers, along with other indicators that help to categorise the content, a portion of the platform’s most influential offering has been analysed. The results show that young people have created a personal space on this platform with features that belong exclusively to their age group, which are part of their youth culture. The streamers act as figureheads by offering spontaneous content to which young people can relate, and the interaction enriches the experience and reinforces a sense of community. Moreover, the latter aspect is essential to the success of the platform, as it occurs at a crucial moment when identity and relationships with peers take on special importance. Our analysis reveals a gender bias consistent with other international research. This is evidenced by the scarce presence of women as content creators, which is an unbalanced distribution that occurs on a national and global scale.