Twitch is an online streaming service that sees up to "140 million unique monthly active users" as of August 2023. (Elad, 2023) This streaming service allows content creators to share their lives with viewers in a new and exciting way by livestreaming what they're doing. This frequently includes gaming, but creators can share virtually anything they're doing, allowing viewers to feel more connected since they're able to watch live. There is an average of 2.1 million people watching Twitch at any given time, and 55% of those are between the ages of 18 and 34. (Khan, 2021) So clearly, this could easily be a tool used to reach the younger audience.
In October of 2020, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (commonly referred to as AOC) took to Twitch to encourage young voters to get out and vote. The stream became one of the most viewed streams in the platform's history. (Thorbecke, 2020) Early in her stream, she outlines her motivations by saying "First things first, if you are able to vote, we are here -- IWillVote.com. Make sure that you make your voting plan." (Thorbecke, 2020) She continues by telling viewers to encourage other eligible voters to do the same thing. AOC claimed in an interview with CNN's Jack Tapper that her stream was the "largest driver" to the site IWillVote.com. (Khan, 2021)
AOC returned to Twitch in November of 2020 to raise money for "local food pantries, eviction defense legal aid, and community support organizations." (Lovine, 2020) This stream was a success as well considering it generated an income of $200,000 for AOC's causes.
Sources:
- Elad, B. (2023). A List of Vital Twitch Statistics and Trends for Content Creators to Map the Scale of the Platform. EnterpriseAppsToday.
https://www.enterpriseappstoday.com/stats/twitch-statistics.html
- Thorbecke, C. (2020). Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Twitch stream encouraging people to vote becomes one of platform's most-viewed. ABC News Network.
https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-twitch-stream-encouraging-people-vote/story?id=73734695&cid=social_twitter_abcnp
- Khan, I. (2021). Twitch Is Having a Political Renaissance. WIRED.
https://www.wired.com/story/politicians-twitch-voters-georgia-election/
- Lovine, A. (2020). AOC raised $200,000 for charity on her 'Among Us' Twitch stream Friday. Mashable.
https://mashable.com/article/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-aoc-twitch-among-us-charity-stream
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