‘Less toxic and more empathetic’: examining Australian live streamers and viewers on Twitch

In this paper we present the first study of those who watch Australian live streamers on Twitch. Drawing on a survey of 779 Australian and non-Australian viewers of Australian live streamers, we present three key findings and analyses. Firstly, Australian viewers of Australian streamers prioritise feeling community with fellow Australians, but non-Australians express no comparable interest in Australia-focused Twitch communities. Secondly, Australian viewers strongly value the comfort of Australian live streamers’ familiar culture, while non-Australian viewers highly value the novelty of that same (but for them unfamiliar) culture. Thirdly, both groups appreciate the attitudes of Australian live streamers, who were universally described as unlike other live streamers – more relaxed, open, laid-back, and less competitive. We therefore demonstrate viewers do watch Twitch channels because of the broadcaster's nationality, but the nature of the driving interests differs significantly for those who are local to the streamer, and those who are not.