Students explore streaming on Twitch

A new wave of streaming, specifically on Twitch, has prompted Arianna Townley (11) and ET Thompson (11) to try it on their own. Townley (11) and ET Thompson (11), pictured in front of their newly built house, have just streamed Minecraft on Twitch.

Arianna Townley

A new wave of streaming, specifically on Twitch, has prompted Arianna Townley (11) and ET Thompson (11) to try it on their own. Townley (11) and ET Thompson (11), pictured in front of their newly built house, have just streamed Minecraft on Twitch.

Wyboth and Erythi have joined the game. Arianna Townley (11) boots up her streaming software and presses the start button. As viewers begin to quietly trickle into the chat, they signal that the stream is soon to begin.  

Online streaming has skyrocketed especially over last year, allowing new streamers a chance in the spotlight. Townley and ET Thompson (11) have taken advantage of the trend to start their journey streaming on Twitch. 

“Twitch is a streaming platform where people play PC or console games and stream it for their fans,” Townley said. “I chose Twitch because I thought it was a good starter platform, and the community for the most part seems to be very nice.”

Almost every streamer has their own signature name, as having a unique username helps identify the streamer more easily. 

“My twitch profile, [username Wyboth_], is currently linked in my Instagram bio at (ariannat__),” Townley said. “My viewers can also interact with me on my twitter (@ariannat__) or discord, which is (@ariannat__#2199).”

Popular creators have flocked to various streaming platforms to livestream their adventures. A few of White Station’s own have found inspiration from these creators to stream on Minecraft. 

“Arianna and I wanted to start playing video games together since we haven’t been able to see each other much, and we’re inspired by watching other streamers, like CallMeCarson and TommyInnit, to start streaming on our own.” Thompson said. 

With a newfound passion for streaming and creating content, Townley and Thompson encourage other students to try it out for themselves. 

“Honestly, I just want to have fun on Twitch, and if it goes somewhere, great, but if it doesn’t, I don’t mind,” Thompson said. “My only goal is to share my Minecraft moments with my friends.” 

Starting off fresh on a social media platform is not always easy, but  having a friend or two to tag along certainly helps Townley and Thompson to move forward.

“It’s really just like recording you and your friend playing a video game together,” Thompson said. “I find it shows everyone that not every gamer is perfect but also showcases some funny moments you may not typically see on YouTube. You get authenticity from streaming and I think it’s a fun idea for anyone, and it’s a lot easier than making a YouTube video you have to edit.”