In 2020 the world was changed by a pandemic that spread over the whole world. This pandemic put people out of jobs, at their homes, with nothing to do and no way to make money. But what about those who were already working from home? They weren’t able to get out of their home to go to the store but there were thousands of new ways to get their food and supplies delivered. So, it didn't affect them, better yet, they were the ones who were entertaining those who were now stuck at home. These people are Twitch streamers and YouTube creators, who had the most successful jobs in 2020 before 2020. Did they have the right idea from the beginning? 

Twitch streamers have an unusual job. They sit down at their desk every day, turn on their computers, and talk to many people around the world while playing video games. How is this actually a job? There are a few ways to make this a successful career. “A schedule is vital to keep you on track. As all your viewers will be waiting on those times, being late can be horrible for your Twitch career” (Alison). When streaming on Twitch there are followers, bits, and donations which are ways for your viewers to pay you. The more viewers you have the more you are paid for your content which is why “Every broadcaster on the site shows their gameplay, either on a console or computer, and gives a view of themselves as well while also providing audio commentary” (Alison). Viewers are more likely to watch a streamer's content if they show themselves and the game they are playing. However, a streamer can become very popular without a webcam such as Corpse Husband who got his fame from his unique voice and Among Us content. If a streamer is not making enough money from their viewers and donations “Twitch broadcasters can apply for the Twitch partnership program, which enables them to get a cut from the advertisement and subscription revenue received by Twitch. Acceptance into the program requires approval, which is based on certain requirements like having a minimum number of viewers, and a minimum of broadcasts per week” (Investopedia).

Why would someone choose to stream on Twitch over other jobs? Most people don't go into streaming as a set and stone career because it is not. Kaitlyn Fox is an example of someone who became a Twitch Streamer by accident. Twitch was “funding Kaitlyn Fox through medical school. For her, Twitch is not about making a fortune… she didn’t set out to be a streamer. "I wanted to be a professional StarCraft player," she says” (Wiltshire). She was a professional StarCraft player for three and a half years and streamed on the side. She made less than $8,000 a year from streaming and didn't ask her audience for money until 2014. At Christmas after a personal crisis she needed to pay her rent, “It was a make or break moment for her career, and she told her audience what had happened. ‘My stream donated for it. And from that point on I was able to live off Twitch’” (Wiltshire). Are there other reasons why people would stream on twitch other than the money? Wade Barnes, Mark Fischbach, and Bob Muyskerm on their podcast that is streamed on Twitch where they talk about the latest news in technology and gaming normally play a game together at the end. In one of their latest Podcasts, episode 71 they had a discussion about their specific jobs. Barnes and Muyskerm are Twitch streamers while Fischbach is a YouTube creator who streams on YouTube aside from the podcast. Barnes explained to his friends that he enjoyed streaming more than creating YouTube videos because of the interactions he can have with his audience and he doesn’t feel as compelled to act perfectly since it was live and everyone knew it was live. If he did something that was off-character he would pass it off as a joke where if it was in a YouTube video he would have to explain himself since it could be cut out. (Fischbach et al.)

Along with Twitch, YouTube has just as much influence on young people and on the creators. Mark Fischbach, a thirty-one-year-old man, started his life on YouTube when he was twenty-two years old. At the time, Fischbach was going through engineering school at the University of Cincinnati. He started his YouTube career in his mother’s basement and did not tell his mother about dropping out of school to pursue YouTube. Now he is known as Markiplier, a man who makes millions of dollars a single year doing a job that he loves (Farizan). What type of videos does he make on YouTube? He started out with gaming, and his channel still is a majority of gaming content but he is the maker of A Heist with Markiplier, a choose your own adventure YouTube original series with over 30 endings. His YouTube career has influenced him to be a director and actor as he has starred and directed his own short films and series such as; Who Killed Markiplier, Wilford Motherloving Warfstache, A Date with Markiplier, and Damien. He is currently working on a project as well. This man is one example of many creators who got their start with a small YouTube video and has grown into a well-known influencer. 

Twitch and YouTube entertainers may have had the most successful 2020 job before 2020 even happened. You can stream many things on Twitch but the most popular things are gaming. Making money is not easy, but it’s possible through bits, followers, donations, and partnerships/ sponsors. Twitch streamers don't normally choose their job, most of the time it is a hobby that becomes successful enough to sustain them. People will also choose Twitch over YouTube because of how loose it can be over making YouTube videos. Influencers can come from little to nothing and become popular but it will take time and work. After influencers get their start they can learn new trades to boost their popularity. So, is this specific job going to change the way we look at work? Or is it just an enigma?

Works Cited

Alison. “How Twitch Streaming Can Be a Valuable Job | Invision Game Community.” Invisioncommunity.co.uk, 2020, invisioncommunity.co.uk/how-twitch-streaming-can-be-a-valuable-job/. Accessed 4 Feb. 2021.

Farizan, Donna. “YouTube Influencer Markiplier Discusses His Rise to Stardom | TODAY - YouTube.” Www.youtube.com, 19 Nov. 2019, www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7D5v1tGG1c. Accessed 4 Feb. 2021.

Fischbach, Mark, et al. “Markiplier | 3 Peens in a Pod (EP 71)(12 Jan 2021)(Just Chatting) - YouTube.” Www.youtube.com, MarkiplierVods, 12 Jan. 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=WskB8OAl4kg&t=1475s. Accessed 4 Feb. 2021.

Investopedia. “How Twitch.tv Works and Its Business Model.” Investopedia, 1 Nov. 2019, www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/082115/how-twitchtv-works-and-its-business-model.asp#:~:text=Twitch.tv%20is%20a%20video. Accessed 4 Feb. 2021.

Wiltshire, Alex. “What Does It Take to Make a Living on Twitch?” PC Gamer, 11 Nov. 2019, www.pcgamer.com/what-does-it-take-to-make-a-living-on-twitch/. Accessed 4 Feb. 2021.