People of all ages can access the internet with more ease than ever nowadays, so it’s no surprise that major websites like YouTube andTwitchare drawing a lot of young users. Kids love to browse websites like these just as much as adults, but the difference in age comes with plenty of complications. Parents, content creators, and website moderators all have their own concerns about what kids might find on a site likeTwitch, as exemplified by Twitch’s attempts to rein in content like hot tub streams in recent years. It has also inspired Pokimane to propose a Twitch filter specifically for young Internet users.
During a recent stream, Pokimane chatted with her viewers aboutyoung users of Twitchand suggested that the streaming platform should introduce a special content roster similar to YouTube Kids. Parents would certainly appreciate having a clear list of family-friendly channels that their kids can enjoy. If Twitch does create some sort of Twitch Kids subsector of itself, however, viewers won’t be the only ones impacted. Streamers, both well-known figures and newcomers from the children’s entertainment side of YouTube, might flock toward family-friendly Twitch streaming in the hopes of capturing part of the Twitch Kids audience in a new streaming meta.
RELATED:Twitch Was Right To Permanently Ban JiDion, Here’s Why
Twitch Content for Kids
That success doesn’t necessarily have to be exclusive to YouTube. On the contrary, it seems likely that Twitch streamers could imitate a lot of child-friendly entertainment that makes the rounds on YouTube. Whether arranging live sing-alongs, playing family-friendly video games, or doing live craft activities that kids can imitate from home, Twitch could offer a lot of engagement for young viewers, especially if channels like these belonged to a special Twitch Kids subcategory that was easy for both children and their parents to find. Witha little streamlining by Twitch itself, streamers could find success comparable to YouTube Kids' top channels.
RELATED:Valkyrae and Amouranth Prove Streamers Are the New Celebrities
A Possible Twitch Meta
While the stars of a theoretical Twitch Kids would probably be newer streamers who cater their content entirely toward younger viewers, more streamers might try to break into the category. Kids love to return to a favorite YouTube channel over and over again, meaning streamers who qualify fora kid-friendly version of Twitchcan pick up loyal new viewers by playing Twitch Kids approved games and making slightly tamer content on the whole. Twitch Kids might also prove invaluable in helping small channels become major successes, connecting new Twitch users with channels that cater to their interests, should small channels lean into the Twitch Kids model.
Of course, for the time being, Twitch Kids is justa proposition from Pokimane, and whether Twitch itself is listening or has any established interest in supporting a network of channels for kids remains to be seen. Should Twitch make such an attempt, however, a lot of channels would probably jump on it as an opportunity. Trends on Twitch like the hot tub meta and the TV meta tend to shape the content created by even the biggest streamers. Twitch Kids would inevitably encourage a trend toward content for all ages that some streamer might chase to make their channels grow. It’ll be interesting to see ifTwitchhas anything to say about Pokimane’s suggestion.
MORE:JiDion’s Permanent Twitch Ban Could Speak to a New Push Against Hate Raids
