The Parasocial Problem with Livestreaming

The world has changed. Internet communities are replacing the in person, face to face interactions that were once the norm. Livestreaming has played a big role in facilitating the rise of online communities, but with that has also come a parasitic social side effect...
Full interviews will be uploaded to my second channel:
/ @glinkthink
Intro song - Aruarian dance by Nujabes
"Parasocial" segment - 8 bit version of "19-2000" by Gorillaz
Everything else was taken off of Epidemic Sound, royalty free music
SPECIAL THANKS:
VH21 for helping with research / clips
BobberWCC for the thumbnail art
my brother Andrew for drawing and animating the intro segment
(check out his artwork here - / themildside )
Members of my discord for filming themselves looking at screens for the video:
James the bus, Isaac, Boiardo, Sagan, Kiyu, Scott
Asmongold - / asmongold
BobberWCC - / bobberwcc
ConnorEatsPants - / connoreatspants
KazooieGirl - / kazooiegirl
Mizkif - / mizkif
Full Mizkif Interview: • Discussing the Highs a...
AntPlayz
Peter
Poco
Zaz
Rest in peace Reckful
Support me on Patreon to be featured at the credits of my videos and for Patreon exclusive Q & As: / glink
Twitter - / glinklive
Reddit - / glink
Instagram - / glink_between_worlds
Discord - / discord

[@GlinkBetweenWorlds]

*if you’re coming here from a streamer reaction and have already seen the full video, you can support me by letting it play all the way through for viewer retention.* I say this because some of the reaction videos already have more views than this one, and while Im glad big streamers watched it and enjoyed, this took a lot of effort to make and I don’t come out with videos every day. So if you want to support me please dont exit out immediately after coming here. Appreciate it.

[@benwhelband7220]

Love you glink, one of the only youtubers who consistently puts out great videos. When a new video comes out for me it feels like an event :)

[@devijim]

Done. Enjoyed it!

[@kristoferkravis1474]

haha don't worry, that's why i came by ;)

[@Waday]

I came here from Asmongold, but I'll gladly let it run all the way through with ads to support you. Thank you so much for making this video. You confirmed a lot of things I've felt.

[@Ovicron]

xQc OMEGALUL dont worry glinkz, you the OG. I play your video in full :)

[@Ohnonoki]

I don't think anyone could ever really understand how the internet would shape humanity in the years since its creation.

[@ivannierez7731]

But at least this time we will have hard evidence. If someone doesn't fry google servers that is. This will be a fun time capsule to open for the future.

[@The_Jazziest_Coffee]

Who would've? I mean considering the frontier technology and the internet was, no one could've ever predicted just how wonderful and dangerous the internet really was. Scarily enough, we've been engulfed by the internet for so long that we'd be totally screwed if the internet got wiped out in a solar corona ejection thing. It'll just wipe out the internet and we'd be back trying to relearn the world

[@thefalsekingslayer3717]

Kojima did...

[@photografo9240]

You should watch Serial Experiments Lain. The show pretty much nailed it.

[@nasa1722]

@@photografo9240 for real though, Lain did such a incredible job showing this despite it's aged

[@goofytuna6077]

Leaving twitch on the background is similar to leaving the TV on in the background, it just makes you feel less lonely. But as soon as you turn it off you just sit there like "damn its really just me in here"

[@GuyWithAnAmazingHat]

I watch a lot of streams, like multistream at least 7 streams minimum at all times and I hate many aspects of online interaction, but people like Doctor K made me appreciate streaming and online communities. I literally live on the other side of the planet from Doc K but seeing how he is sincerely helping the world become a better place, makes me feel better being alive knowing that people like him exist even when there are people IRL who make me feel like humans shouldn't exist.

[@sneed915]

But i just have it on so the silence of my domain doesn't drive me insane

[@goofytuna6077]

@@GuyWithAnAmazingHat damn 7 streams minimum, I wish my internet could handle that! Nice hat btw

[@GuyWithAnAmazingHat]

@@goofytuna6077 Thanks, the trick is to do 360p since the screens are going to be small anyway. Also my limit is ram and overheating if too many screens are on, especially on a side laptop.

[@MarceloAbans]

It's part of the reason why Radio Shows like Howard Stern have been around for so long.

[@mirandamckown4777]

This problem most likely got so much worse due to quarantine.

[@gg1k]

it did

[@fatboyRAY24]

Yeah, Corona really accelerated this transition to digital space that was already picking up pace. I don't see this slowing down anytime soon.

[@ASMRGRATITUDE]

It's not a problem anymore. It's a solution. These are going to be the people that survive coronavirus and repopulate the world.

[@AZ-ww1fy]

Miranda McKown yeah, I started to form one without even noticing it was occurring for about two months, I yeeted twitch right out of my life as soon as I realised

[@mirandamckown4777]

Ceiling Gang i’m glad you realized before it became a serious problem.

[@Blaklighte]

In the words of Bo Burnham, "If you can live your life without an audience, you should do it."

[@eggs3195]

One of my favorite quotes might be relevant here Gandalf: "You are really just a little fellow, in a wide world after all" Bilbo Baggins: "Thank goodness!"

[@StrazdasLT]

But you dont get the twitch money if you do it without an audience.

[@billygilmusic5072]

@@StrazdasLT you do realize there are thousands of ways of making money that don't require an audience and little interaction with people? Most business people out there making 6 figures a year are not known at all, yet they probably make 5 times more than the average influencer. Many think they can become Pewdipie, but that is perhaps the top 1% of streamers. Compare that with the millions of people working in corporate positions or entrepreneurs with multiple streams of revenue around the world.

[@imnotmlg4397]

Agreeing with Billy, there is alot of jobs where you make more than enough, with no audience.

[@b3nnydraws]

I thought about him too

[@johnnybadboy3475]

A lot of people don’t realize they’ve gradually replaced social interaction with the internet, which is really dangerous.

[@justinallen2408]

yeah especially taking a look at the one kid who was saying things about how he types the most and somehow because of this the streamer now knows him and likes him, very big ego gain it looks like for him and that can be a dangerous place for a lonely teen for sure. Don't know how these guys got nothing better to do when i was that age I was all over the place outside and just about 24/7 hanging with friends.

[@RigbyIsTheMan]

Well that just got harder for some people rn

[@MongoGamer]

i know it i just dont know how to fix it.

[@jaysefgames1155]

I never had social interaction to begin with

[@Macheako]

Its way more complex that we think. You're straight up not allowed to DO as much in public like you could years ago. There's so many people with phones waiting to call the cops on people having too much fun. We've flat out turned into an anti social society. It sucks 😕

[@khiu]

it's pretty eye-opening how people who watch streamers later recall it as "lost time"

[@chilli1472]

yes, but all time is lost time when spent away from you cutesy wootsy

[@toffeethedev]

@@chilli1472 i feel like i've walked in on something, do you two need some privacy?

[@rumory]

@@chilli1472 😐

[@AuthorityCat]

Says who? This is a very specific topic that can't be boiled down so simply. Sure, it CAN be unhealthy, but in reality, does it actually have an effect? I don't see an answer in this video. ie, are all the people watching large streams giving money etc, is that actually a large enough population to matter? My personal answer would be no. Not enough people, most people watching aren't interacting in that way. I just don't see society collapsing from this lol.

[@KokoroKatsura]

A N I M E N I M E

[@dyn9726]

personally i dont feel like "socialize" with the livestreamer, i just watch it for the content

[@drunkonwater2898]

Though the fact other people are trying to, sort of distracts you from the content.

[@halvargaerup5162]

Same

[@rodrigofreitas3288]

@@vortexian2390 Must be people that got into it because of this pandemic.

[@samt3412]

Yeah, I mostly watch a streamer for what they're playing and their comedy.

[@DustyLamp]

Then why not dig up a video of the same content where the guy producing it doesn't stop every 5 minutes to read out mrkitty69s latest donation message.

[@haneen834]

I was with my 6 year old niece yesterday and she was watching youtube reaction channel and the guy said “hi guys we’re so close on hitting 7 million subscribers i just wanted to say we can do this and reach this” i was so confused and said “why is he saying “we” he’s the one that got the subscribers it’s weird” and she said “no we’re happy for him cause we like him” i got goosebumps

[@haneen834]

Rie Ta fortunately the KZbinr my niece watched was polite and educated and nice so he might be a good influence but feeling other people’s accomplishments as your own is not healthy perception at all

[@StrazdasLT]

@Rie Ta I dont remmeber the name now but there was a youtuber that manipulated his underage audience to send him nudes.

[@key37raminus]

What is wrong with being happy for someone else's achievements? Why would that be a bad feeling for someone to have?????

[@HedgeFedge]

I genuinely do not believe that a single person in the thread above you is arguing that it's wrong to feel happiness for another person's achievements. Obviously that's ok, because almost everyone has some idea of family, friendship, love etc. It's also completely fine to feel like you're part of a community. But there has to be some degree of separation between yourself and the person on the other side of the screen. The point of the video was to show that it can be unhealthy to derive your happiness from a perceived 'friendship' between yourself and someone who is quite literally unaware of your existence. I would like to say though that clearly there's nothing wrong with OP's niece saying she feels happy for the guy she's watching, because it's just nice to feel happy for other people in general. But given the subject of the video, I guess the OP's fear is that their niece is forming an attachment to a total stranger she knows nothing about. And sure, the OP responded to say that the youtube guy seemed pretty nice, however there have been plenty of examples of online influencers in the past capitalising on their young audience's naivity and suggestibility in order to sell merch and promote their horrible attitudes. I guess what I'm saying is, OP's reaction, whilst perhaps not justified in this particular scenario, is ultimately healthy, because we SHOULD be questioning our online behaviour and how it can genuinely affect our outlooks on life. Doubly so when children are involved.

[@fatcat1414]

To me, the "we" part just establishes that a creator is nothing without their audience and that they are grateful for the support they've been given on their journey. It's not terribly deep.

[@jauxro]

Every one of these names and pictures in the comments represents a person... I struggle to grasp that.

[@katenka_ana3997]

and everyone has their own life - completely different to yours. I can't understand

[@blaise931]

God, that hit me like a brick to the face. Thanks for that reality check, man.

[@GenericProtagonist7]

It's more of a cheap gimmick of a person, being puppeteed around by the actual person. I don't think anyone is being 100% honest as a representation, even if you're trying to.

[@epic-user-handle-83]

@@GenericProtagonist7 like me, I know for a fact that I'm not macaroni.

[@MoldMonkey93]

We're all in this together

[@TheBigDynamo]

It's like Big Smoke said: "Sometimes we think we have the choice but we didn’t have it. We are blessed, AND cursed."

[@Yrkr785]

Boxes World wise words from a wise man

[@YehudiNimol]

This basically describes our entire lives. We came here, we don't know what the fuck we need to do, and at the end of the day we don't really have the choice. We just think we do.

[@fullmetalbleachnote]

Fuck him tho he betrayed the Grove 😭😭😭

[@drifter402]

Just like with black boxes on our cars

[@Scroogs]

Fuck Smoke

[@maxalaintwo3578]

We're already in a cyberpunk dystopia, just without the neon and flying cars

[@StrazdasLT]

I really hate this claim about flying cars. We had flying cars for decades. We call them helicopters.

[@eddieezcobar]

You mean the cool stuff but yeah

[@maxalaintwo3578]

@@StrazdasLT can I drive them on a street with other cars? No? Then they're not. Quit being contrarian

[@tired5880]

dang, I just like the aesthetic... now I feel fooled

[@StrazdasLT]

@@maxalaintwo3578 how do you expect to drive a flying car. you are supposed to fly it.

[@chase_h.01]

That comparison to Dora and Blues Clues is actually terrifying

[@Kaosxca]

Its a reflection of our society.

[@ItsWithakayLee]

That kinda blew my mind

[@MissPopuri]

Like Dora, you can never leave home without your backpack and the map. Dr Jordan Peterson would have a ball looking into these parasocial relationships that form between people.

[@Quzix42]

It's something you don't think about but becomes very obvious. If you're introduced to something as a child and it's treated as normal, chances are you won't be bothered by it when you grow up.

[@Blueflag04]

I kinda get goosebumps from that

[@thegreatchrispy]

Damn. You really confirmed my fear that I've been lonely all along and have been ignoring my loneliness by filling my life with streamer and youtubers and VTubers. It is time to make a change.

[@CallumSk8er]

just give up the vtubers

[@thegreatchrispy]

@@CallumSk8er it's hard tho because they have helped me so much in learning Japanese. Especially casual Japanese. But I've legit had dreams before where a VTuber is my girlfriend so I know at this rate it can't be healthy.

[@thedoubting2290]

@@thegreatchrispy So did you stop watching Vtuber stream?

[@thegreatchrispy]

@@thedoubting2290 nope I watch more of them now than ever. But I shifted my perspective and now focus on watching them for the purpose of learning casual Japanese. And also make sure to spend more time talking with real life friends than watching vtubers.

[@MonkeyDIvan]

Stop wasting your time with them. They won't even notice your absence. That's how much you mean to them in a pool of hundreds of people. Not trying to be mean, but online relationships isn't exactly where it's at. Strive for meaningful relationships, actual relationships. Real life; that's where you'll find it.

[@BAGELMENSK]

We must transcend the digital and find one another again in the meatspace.

[@monstergelo1072]

Can we go to vegetablespace instead?

[@Jtarcz]

We must find the portal to the meat dimension

[@Isaax]

Meatspace. I like that.

[@rubico1894]

The internet and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race.

[@hax0r555]

I see you, Shadowrunner

[@geolex4560]

i'm a super introverted person that becomes easily engrossed in streamers. i remember during the most depressing time of my life, i developed a crush on a male streamer who has a huge audience. he acknowledged me in chat a few times so i wanted to introduce myself in dms. he actually answered, and we had a couple "conversations" about food/music/etc over the next few days/weeks. but they never lasted long and of course he was never the one to dm me first because i was just the stranger trying to chat him up. but the rush i got when he replied was so validating. i came to realize it was all ridiculous: i had no idea who this guy really was, nor did he have any reason to want to get to know me, and the whole thing was self-destructive because i was devaluing my own worth. i still think he's a good streamer and i watch him from time to time every other month, but i rarely type in chat and i definitely don't dm him anymore. i'm just glad i was a broke college student that couldn't afford to throw money at him at the time lmao

[@LeftytheGansterGremlin]

If it makes you feel better, I went through the same situation as you did. For a few people, anyway. But For one example, there was a cosplayer I liked a lot. I DM'd her a lot, and she drew a line at some point. It wasn't lewd discussions there or anything, but I felt lots of validation when she replied. But now I see that I was overstepping my bounds in the DM's. She did sexual appeal stuff for sure, and I was enticed by that since her Discord had a nsfw section.But Looking back, I honestly feel remorse for it because even now I recognize that it was unhealthy. I stopped talking to them a year and a half ago, but I fear I've shared too much already I'm that ashamed of it. Point is, I want to put it all behind me. I don't like her, and I am still mad at her, but I was in the wrong. Been making changes in my life, and pretty soon I'm going to delete my Twitter altogether.

[@femcide]

if it makes u feel better i did the same but with a ytber lmao

[@LeftytheGansterGremlin]

@@el-maiki For the most part, I was mad at her for mainly not telling me immediatley to stop. She only vaguely communicated around it. She flat-out blocked me on Discord one day, and her mods were particularly callous to me about the situation. I was mostly upset at the lack of communication. But other than that, I'm not upset with her anymore as well as myself. I'm keen to move on.

[@Astrianaut]

May I ask, who was the streamer? Just curious. :~)

[@jelly985]

me with Jerma except i haven’t been noticed sigh

[@thektorMK1]

This didn’t get personal until he showed Dora the Explorer. Now I have to wonder what I’ve been doing all these years. Gonna go cry in el baño.

[@hanasong8296]

i had to stop streaming because the social pressure was too much. viewers seek out smaller streamers specifically to find friendship/be noticed. they think you owe them something for being a regular/donating. its a very unique pressure that you never really experience anywhere else and became overwhelming to me as an introvert. Miskif really described it perfectly.

[@X1erra]

Very insightful. I believe it is very important for people to remember the difference between "donation" and "paying up". Just like donating in real life, one can't owe them anything, it's meant to be out of kindness of the heart. We must remind every viewers that fact and stand firm to that belief.

[@Joesosexy]

I was think of starting to stream any tips?

[@Joesosexy]

I’m_a_stupid_person who_should_get_a_life thank you

[@scottygg8550]

if you still like creating content then try youtube, there is less social pressure because you can respond to people directly through coments

[@redking36]

player 1 My friend has had some pretty good success. He has 900 followers, which I think puts him at least in the top 5% in Twitch. He has about 10 viewers at any given time and he’s really social with everyone, but even with such a small viewership it can be hard for him to read every comment. If you’re interested, he started out by just hanging around in VRChat and I guess he also did Overwatch and model editing in Blender / Unity. Now he just plays whatever he wants. I don’t know how he does it, but there’s something about him that just makes people want to be social and that attracts a lot of viewers over time. I don’t know the secret to his charm, but I do think VRChat and his casual mentality in general did play a role in planting the seed for his viewer base. I don’t want to plug his channel so that’s all the advice I can offer.

[@heshiram1188]

I used to eat my meals while watching this Japanese KZbinr who would record herself preparing and eating her meals. I was pretty lonely back in 2016-2017. I didn't have a crush or obsession with her, really. I just wanted to eat with someone. I grew up with a family that always ate our meals together and do a lot of things together. But we were living abroad when I was growing up and in 2016, my mother and sisters moved back to our homecountry. It was just my dad and I, and he was always at work so I would cook my own food and eat by myself. I moved back too in 2018, so now I barely watch that channel. Usually before bed as a kind of bedtime story. I have a few channels that I would kind of categorize as bedtime channels lol (small tidbit: I spend 4-6hrs on KZbin everyday, can be 8hrs on weekends)

[@SugaryPhoenixxx]

Wow that is cringe.

[@heshiram1188]

@@SugaryPhoenixxx Thank you for your opinion

[@a.shioya]

I don't think it's cringe at all (i have bedtime channels too lol), I also noticed how much I used to consume youtube as a form of entertainment and as a form to not be alone. Nowadays I don't spend much time watching videos but back at the days where I had no friends/social interactions with them I used to watch all day long everyday

[@heshiram1188]

@@a.shioya Yeah, that other guy was just being mean. Imagine calling someone who misses their family cringe. uwu

[@typhoon_abm5691]

@@heshiram1188 I'd eat with you

[@zephyrsilverwind]

It's pretty funny how so many people in the comments try to act as if they are a "better"/more "mature" person for not being into this livestreaming thing. Do people not realise that not everyone values the same things in life as they do? And that the same things have different importance to different people? In the first place, not everyone watches livestreams because they crave social interaction. Just because some people have this parasocial problem and genuinely regret their time spent watching livestreams does not mean others do as well. But you get these people who just in a nutshell want to say that their way of life is the only right one and be all smug about it. Reminds me of how some people somehow think that something "real" is inherently better than something "digital"/"virtual", or how something "natural" is inherently" better than something "man-made"/"artificial". You might not have this parasocial problem, but in my opinion, you have an entirely different problem.

[@bcillus]

people don't like the comment, even though it's relevant, cause they feel called out.

[@Knoit]

"Some people somehow think that something "real" is inherently better than something "digital"/"virtual" " I am one of those people, and I truly don't see the problem. An only virtual relationship could never achive what an "irl" relationship achieves, and so it is inherently better. By "only virtual" I mean a relationship that stays on the internet, I think that the ones that born on the internet and grow into meeting in person are "true" relationship (pass me the term pls)

[@zephyrsilverwind]

Even if you were to talk about "real" and "virtual" in terms of relationships only and using your definition, why do you assume everyone else wants to achieve the same things as you do in having a relationship? Others might form relationships for reasons you and I are unaware about, or for reasons that you and I might personally disagree with but aren't any less valid to those people themselves. Plus, even for the same person, they might want to form different relationships with different people. Are you able to say that a real relationship is inherently better than a virtual one in every single situation?

[@davefred]

Because it is better, dumbass.

[@TheR3d3mpti0n]

@@davefred from your language it doesnt sound like it lol

[@ohno-wi1vb]

I only recently got twitch and one thing I noticed that really disturbs me is the fact that people seem to think it’s okay to treat streamers like their therapists. It’s really weird. Like they’re just playing minecraft and people are in the chat like “I think I am going to kill myself but I won’t if I get a reply from you.” Like wtf?? people come in the chat with some seriously heavy stuff and I don’t know why they think that’s acceptable behavior

[@noakuu393]

This reminds me of how I would hop into a Dream stream and lots of younger viewers would pay money to send those chat popups read by the google translate voice and they would mostly just talk about how bad their days were and how Dream always makes them feel better/asking for shoutouts/etc. It really made me sad. He ignored a majority too

[@rachelle2227]

I stream my art on reddit and tiktok sometimes and one of the first comments I got on a stream recently was about them having diarrhea on the couch and they want to clean it up before their grandma sees... My first thought was they were a troll, but nope... Then they were telling me about how they don't want to be kicked out again... That's pretty heavy to bring to a stream.

[@skiedev]

In one small streamer chat we had a woman who openly said she regrets her now 5-year old son and possibly her marriage. I don't know what she was expecting us all to say and that's such a heavy topic to bring to someone slow moving chat where they're just doing their job as a streamer. I do feel bad for those with bad life situations but someone on the internet in another country cant really do anything. Especially someone who's just trying to entertain.

[@ohno-wi1vb]

@@skiedev exactly! like I feel bad but what is the streamer supposed to do lol

[@animoo.]

@@rachelle2227 I have so many questions but all I Gotta say is that’s terrible you shouldn’t have to deal with that :(

[@GlinkBetweenWorlds]

This morning I learned of Reckful's passing. He was one of the original big streamers on Twitch. A player and content creator I looked up to since 2012. He was an inspiration to many, a great friend to some, and a light in this world. His body may have died, but his sould and his impact will live forever. Rest in peace, Reckful. I want to thank every streamer and viewer who was open and honest in their interviews with me, they made this video what it is. I want to thank my older brother Andrew for animating the intro, he worked very hard on it. Thank you guys so much for the support. I hope these videos can help people find some meaning.

[@chipskylark5500]

Compliments to your brother! The intro was dope!

[@F_Arsenault45]

Idk if its video games or just me but i'm just a hermit.

[@martin8313]

peace be upon him

[@sparFuu]

R.I.P reckful, we'll miss you.

[@F_Arsenault45]

This is why i never donate to you. Sorry but i'm not gonna become a hermit for you.

[@emiliomarbanjr]

14:15 Indeed, i'm not the type of person who worships peple but when i watched a Twitch's streamer for the first time (it was Trick2G, he had 2k viewers at that moment) i typed in chat like 4 times, but i wasn't trying to interact with him, i was just enjoying the gameplay and the stream. He interacted with me twice, and i wasn't even a sub and there were a lot of subs talking to him. It felt good, ngl. So i can totally see why people can get trapped there.

[@smugqing5164]

It's addictive as hell. I tried watching a streamers for like a week, I just wanted to experience the lifestyle. It went wrong once a big streamer noticed me. Since then, I couldn't stop craving for such short lived interaction with them.

[@StrazdasLT]

@@smugqing5164 solution is to watch videos that are weeks old - you never get a response!

[@Sol36900]

The same thing happened to me when a favorite KZbinr responded to me. It made the loneliness I was enduring so much heavier. To get a response was like getting a drop of water in the desert. I made me understand how people can worship online celebrities.

[@Blueflag04]

Its so rare to see streamers talking to non sub fans.

[@Ibrahimovic4life]

Reading this I just thought about a documentary that mentioned how 'crack junkies always try to replicate the first high, calling it the 'golden' high.'

[@justakidmeh6284]

This whole video gave me *Perfect Blue: 1997* vibes and made me very uncomfortable in every imaginable way and I highly credit you for that and bringing this discussion forefront to viewers. It reminds me of the scenes I saw in the movie that really reflect on today's society makes my skin crawl with cruelty and shock as it feels like if this was a movie but it's real and the streamers, celebs, KZbinrs and more share and tell more of their stories on what they've gone through from their lives from fans, followers, and paid supporters online as they try to have a normal balanced life. I highly recommend watching the movie but fair warning it will give you a mind fuck and perceive reality in today's society on self idolization.

[@emimimix]

Perfect Blue is one of my favorite movies and one that I didn’t realize when watching at the time would hold as much truth as it does today. It doesn’t have to be celebrities, artists, or movie stars developing parasocial relationships; nowadays it’s evolved to streamers, Instagram influencers, KZbin creators, especially TikTok and anything social media based. It’s really terrifying to think about

[@moonlightblue9196]

Oh wow.. I didnt think of Perfect Blue like that. That *is* creepy

[@melodybaoin1425]

Supereyepatchwolf created a video that connected the social themes in Perfect Blue to the current internet age. It is one of his old videos but darn, his explanation become more relevant as time passes by.

[@LiamVsSociety]

This video genuinely helped me immensely. I actually just fell out with someone I met through Twitch; We would play games and stuff together all the time. He was a smaller streamer and over a few streams we got to know each other very well. We added each other on Discord and I genuinely felt like I had a friend. I helped him grow and spread his channel over a few platforms. I even made a Discord server for him. He blew up quite a bit and found more and more people like me. He started looking at me less as a friend and as just a name in the chat. He went completely radio silent after a while and he eventually just removed me from all of his socials and friends lists without warning or reason and started playing with his other viewers/friends a ton more. He Replaced me just like that. I know I sound pathetic currently but I genuinely looked at him as one of my friends. This video kinda showed me that there are other people in the same boat. I doubt this comment isn't gonna be read by many people because its not some dumbass meme or something but if you're reading this Glink, Thank you. Keep making good content

[@malphusmclerius9455]

It really sucks man. I’ve had this happen atleast a couple of times now.

[@pikachusprite7749]

It's sad to see how the value one person has can decrease exponentially when building a community.

[@user-qk1xt3yb7i]

That's really sad. Also you stole my name

[@burtbiggum499]

Fuck man

[@mekudu-man3804]

this also happens a lot irl - look it up, history is full of stories like these

[@larrydupp3988]

I went to a pond with a friend of mine yesterday, and for 2, pure, whole hours, we just swam among the shallow shore collecting seaweed and putting it on the shore while talking to each other. Dumb shit like that is what makes memories

[@justinallen2408]

@@tliltocatlalbopilosa1513 Humans do what Humans do leave em be and they will wreck shit leave them be and they will make something beautiful, we've created biomes and have destroyed them.

[@jeanpierrepolnareff9919]

i remember when my brothert and me were alone at home, and we decided to make a huege mannekin to scare my parents, we spend the whole day and when our parents came home they said wtf is that.

[@patrikalos5301]

@@justinallen2408 we are just like any other animals at the end of the day

[@dopaminecloud]

@@patrikalos5301 a simple idea that often goes forgotten amidst the megalomania.

[@larrydupp3988]

Don’t worry, we were good friends of the owner of the pond and we put all of it back. The seaweed was loose plants at the shallow shore. The fishes are still fine

[@reveriegirl]

Lately I haven't really been on social media because I haven't felt the urge to. I have realized there is nothing there for me. I'm always scrolling past the same posts, the same over stimulating atmosphere. I have been more critical of the KZbinrs I watch recently as well. Thinking things like "How are they really like?" "How authentic are they?" I'm pretty sure most people are normal ones who put on a slightly exaggerated persona, but I still think about a lot. The thing is though because of quarantine, I really don't have too many social outlets. Luckily I have kept myself busy with small things, but it scares me to think about what if I let go. Thanks for getting to the end of this mind dump lol.

[@aaronperezsomarriba8504]

Bruh... I feel you.

[@turquoisemoon8453]

I deleted all social media too a few months back, and it's felt amazing. I keep in touch with my close friends, I have a lot more free time in my life, and it's genuinely the best decision I've made. I took a look into my life, and realized I value the real world more. I spend time on social media like youtube only when I'm free. I feel I have more control over my own life.

[@commandergamez1]

Man at the beginning took 40 years to get to his friends house

[@xanthippus3190]

The bike is a time machine

[@the360experiencewithzap]

The song in the intro is Aruarian dance by Nujabes

[@xxxDarkzSiderxxx]

I was happy when I heard that song, haven't in a while

[@ethre4758]

Do you know the song right after aruarian dance in the intro?

[@the360experiencewithzap]

@@ethre4758 Sorry, I don't know that one

[@jonathanrelatado5349]

It's such a beautiful song :)

[@Chrome-uc3fw]

Doing the Lord's work i see

[@Gokanaru]

Bro this was the smoothest, most clean editing I've seen in a long while. Loved the intro especially, Nujabes was an unexpected addition :]

[@youraverageeverydaynugget7994]

Ayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyýyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

[@PippaPasses]

Glink has definitely tripped before

[@danieltalton7717]

Dreamy

[@richztensteinburg9096]

oh you're not dead.

[@M1N3TA]

Ayyyyyuuuuyuuueeeoorrofodofogvo

[@Zalazaar]

I remember the short while Pokemon Go was huge. I met lots of people IRL and it felt almost nostalgic.

[@ichliebebaeumeweilbaum]

Ikr? You can say what you want about this game but pokemon go really helped me going outside and meet people in real life whereas now it's mostly just me sitting alone in my room.

[@stardustsdd]

Are you still in contact with those people?

[@Zalazaar]

@@stardustsdd nope lol

[@ichliebebaeumeweilbaum]

I don't watch streamers, but for me it's the same with youtubers. They make me feel less lonely. But then when I look back on the past few years the moments that I do remember aren't the ones I spent in the internet but with real life people. My friends, family, school. Even though I spend so much time on the internet most of it is just forgettable in the end. Now I'm scared that I will just waste my life like this. I hope that I can get out of that. I really do. I'll start by trying to use my phone less, maybe it'll improve the way I do social interactions.

[@saidabachabergschdaigamuesli]

well this hits very close to home

[@mitralingreyman5835]

What you want to do with life might be different from one person to another. I personally don't give a sh t about personal connections or starting a family. For me life is how much interesting stuff I will read, see, feel, taste and experience.Books, music, games, travel etc. It is different for everyone.

[@saidabachabergschdaigamuesli]

@@mitralingreyman5835 I need to ask: Do you honestly think that will fill your life with joy for all the time? Because I think that mindset is great, but it cant guarantee you a caring social environment

[@semidecent4395]

I think the way to get the most out of life is striking a balance of social connections and hobbies/entertainment that makes you feel satisfied. That balance is different for everyone though

[@neonbelly4]

It only applies to vlogs. Watching vids about ur interests isn't like watching a streamer for a sense of community. I look at the video, not at the creator

[@arpee1337]

It seems that Twitch is having the same negative effects as any prolonged use of an "escape mechanism": the loss of the ability to deal with what you're trying to escape from. Video games and entertainment are important and healthy as long as used in weighted proportions but once it's being used in detriment of actually ever facing your inner demons, we start making people with social anxiety, fear and ever so more dependent on these escape mechanisms.

[@The_Jazziest_Coffee]

It's sad and stereotypical to say this, but the internet has fuelled the growing pandemic of introverts and antisocials. This is all my speculation, but essentially we have broken our brains just by being addicted to the internet. It broke our evolutionary systems, and how now we want everything now. And that if we aren't the best, we're never the best. Like it manipulated the meanings in everything, it's just insane

[@StrazdasLT]

@@The_Jazziest_Coffee No. It just allowed the introverts and antisocials to express themselves when traditionally they were ignored and supressed by the extraverted society. They were always there, we just didnt hear them before.

[@The_Jazziest_Coffee]

@@StrazdasLT Hmm true. Still, this is just my personal opinion, so I would've been wrong. I still think though many new problems are being fueled from the internet.

[@taylorboney1089]

Filipino Mapper introverts are just people who are drained by being around people, they can still make friends.

[@The_Jazziest_Coffee]

@@taylorboney1089 yeah, i know. i'm extraverted myself so i'm kind of unsure what it means to be introverted much. i still am socially awkward, but personality wise i am extraverted

[@worldogameplays]

Well, this is depressing... I'm gonna go back to the 2000's.

[@Moostar95]

Same

[@seaangel1430]

Ok time to use my dads time machine 👍

[@TheDansonT]

World of Gameplays you got room in the time machine fam?

[@KingDuken]

Too late. The present is already here and the future is waiting on we do next.

[@cornheadahh]

I'm getting old. I remember when people used to say they wanted to go back to the 90s

[@LetsFindOut1]

Found this in suggested and I just need to say how amazing both the content and editing were. Netflix and cable tv could seriously learn about journalism and production from you. Jesus this is rich content, huge thumbs up man

[@nalapala_]

oh shit never thought i’d find you here lol

[@fractal6929]

@@nalapala_ neither

[@Sqrl10]

Lets Find Out coming out of nowhere. Good to see you here. Probably relates back to the whole concept of the video though lol. I don’t Twitch stream. Don’t watch it nor do I stream. It is odd though to see a person I DO watch occasionally pop up on the internet, especially when the comment is a year old. It’s an odd feeling for sure.

[@slevinchannel7589]

Salari covered Twitch and it's Problems extremly well, getting much praise, but Pop-Culture Detective and Hbomberguy also dont have a Trillion and a Half Subs for no reason: their videos about alpha-males, pick-up Artists and all that is Genius.

[@zanrakey4140]

So a bit of a note from someone studying psychology in Uni and who recently has been studying a lot of media related Psychology. It's important to note that it's only a "para-social" relationship if it is 100% one sided. The moment the second party interacts with the first in any way it is then a SOCIAL relationship, albeit a limited one. There really isn't a word, to my knowledge, that covers this form of limited social relationship where there is forms of interaction on both sides but it's lopsided toward the viewer.

[@draikoanimations1370]

So para-social relationships are like screaming into the void and acting like your echo is your best friend or SO

[@Helloknight]

@@draikoanimations1370 basically

[@edwardsmale3977]

who cares, you know what they meant

[@zanrakey4140]

@@edwardsmale3977 Yes… *I* knew what they meant. Not everyone went to college for psychology. When people use words in incorrect ways it confuses those who don’t have that prior knowledge and it disrupts meaningful conversations.

[@edwardsmale3977]

@@zanrakey4140 I'm sorry but how is it in an "incorrect way"? I've never had any psychology training at all; you don't need to be a psychologist to understand the title "The para-social problem of livestreaming" without being a smart-ass that "parasocial" actually means a completely one-sided relationship. It doesn't add anything to the video or help anyone that ANY sort of interaction makes it no longer a parasocial relationship. Regardless, you could always see it as an exaggeration, as a chat box is virtually a one-sided relationship.

[@MongoGamer]

im so lonely i just watch youtube all day. my social abilities have deteriorated from years of not using them, and for all the content i consume i feel like the time of my life is the thing most sadly being consumed. tech is drugs and im just another addict lost in the sea of them each isolated in their own homes plugged in but disconnected.

[@sawedoffshottyshane9637]

Mongo Gamer felt

[@chilli1472]

don't lose hope kid. The time will come when the technomancers™ will have pay for what they have done..

[@stickmaker7]

I don't see why you would stay disconnected. No matter how hard it is, you're the one controlling your life. Live in the now rather than the past no matter how difficult. Your only stop is the you that lays in that ditch, lying down instead of climbing it.

[@MongoGamer]

@@stickmaker7 thats the goal man but i get to whine sometimes. it helps

[@FierceDonkeyFighter]

@@stickmaker7 have you ever noticed how unwelcome people are when they are trying to enter a group just for the sake of being everyone's friend? A person totally isolated has a whole lifestyle that is keeping them separated, it's not just one little decision to go get some buddies. To tell someone "just go get friends bro" is not helpful. You need a new job, or some kind of in person regular classes, or something like that to "socially lubricate"

[@badkerproductions]

It's a mixed-bag. We all want these organic, real relationships, but online interaction is not benign. Just this year I went down to Texas for SXSW even though it was mostly canceled. On my way back up to Iowa, I stopped by an online friend I met on soundcloud 10 years ago, and spent two days at his house recording stuff. I told him candidly - this doesn't feel weird, it almost feels like you lived kitty-corner to me back in my home town. In other words, the internet taught me that meeting this person was going to be completely negative and strange, but in fact meeting them was one of the cooler "more social" events of my life, and really gave credence to the "pen-pal" culture we were indoctrinated into in the 80s and 90s before the internet.

[@badkerproductions]

@Leaf Yeah, I find "youtuber" one-angle webcam E-celeb casting to be a lower culture. I have a history degree, which is basically a long-term journalism degree, and I would prefer the written word format to editorial commentary. I'm also an armchair student of film, so I think these videos are garbage in terms of découpage.

[@bifurioussiren]

@@badkerproductions I agree. We all want real relationships, but if done right the internet can help us find those relationships. I wouldn't have met my boyfriend without tinder, for example. It can feel a lot like seeing a friend you haven't seen in years when you meet an internet friend irl. With some friends, it doesn't matter how long it's been, you can just pick up where you left off and immediately start enjoying each others irl company. An internet friend is someone that you may talk to every day, so seeing them in person can be just as easy to fall into. However, with some people, they're just better to talk to through text and when you meet things ARE awkward, because someone may be a good match for you on paper, be interested in the same things, even write in a way that is easy to understand and respond to, but in person none of that works, you don't "vibe", it doesn't flow naturally, you don't click. That's why it's so important to meet people you talk to on tinder or anywhere online, and go on real dates, because someone who doesn't really pop through text, may be amazing in person and vice versa. Now with the pandemic, those of us who had few to no friends are stuck in this weird zone where we want to make and form new relationships, but we know that talking online won't be the same once we meet and we could end up not being a good friend match when we finally do. just curious, do you enjoy youtube videos that are film critique or review such as Lindsay Ellis type videos or The Take, or Every Frame a Painting when that was a thing? I spend an obscene amount of time on youtube. I was a film student before I transferred to a major more about video, sound, games, animation, etc. I also don't watch any Twitch, and don't really see the appeal for me personally although I may watch art streamers in the future someday because I find it relaxing to watch people paint and/or draw or just create. I focused on video work in college and youtube and activism is going to be my job if I can hack it (not this channel). I even understand mukbangs more than streamers, because it's like having dinner with someone, but I'd much rather play a game than watch people play it and only watch let's plays if I want to watch a game, and then i choose ones without commentary. It's the same reason I don't like sports, I'd rather play a sport than watch others play it. However, I do like competition shows like Face Off so it's not like I don't like watching people compete. Now I'm just rambling, sorry.

[@bifurioussiren]

@Indigo Rodent I see your point. I'd also like to point out that Lindsay has a video all about The Producers which talks about satire and Nazis, etc. I get what you mean about authority though. For me, I watch so many different ones and I have my own opinions. Truly it does feel like learning still. I mean, when I was in film school and we had required reading or the teacher talked about something that's them putting their own spin and interpretation on it. We're all humans with bias. Some may have more perceived authority than another based on how long they've worked in a field, but all learning is listening to people's opinions on topics as well as learning facts about a topic. If you want info about the facts of certain topics you can find wiki articles, books, or even documentaries but those are all still made by humans with bias. I think if you have that different take about War of the Worlds, then you or someone else should make a video addressing it and people like me who like Lindsay's work would love to watch it! I'm always looking for new and different perspectives. And yes, it is still entertainment but it still feels a lot different than just watching War of the Worlds would. However, anytime I watch anything new it also feels a bit like learning because I'm exposing myself to new works of art, learning about the history of our culture by consuming it's popular art of the time, and also exposing myself to new things that help inform my own work. Part of what you're saying is why I'm working on my own video essays. I have a lot to say, a lot of opinions, and I love the format. I've learned a lot on KZbin that I don't think I would've otherwise about a lot of things, like history, technology, animals, science, ideologies, that help me have a, hopefully, well rounded view of the world. (: People taking essays as fact is the audiences fault imo and hopefully we can work to fix that. Though I see your point in how youtubers moderate their comments section. Sadly, critical thinking isn't where it should be for a lot of people. A critique of a work isn't a fact, but an opinion and we need to hear varying opinions to help make up our own mind, not just watch one essay and follow blindly.

[@BBWahoo]

Yeah, people take both extremes, but all you need to tell people is "be careful" more often, that's what life about, not if it's strange, acting up on stigmas and blindly following irrational phobias caused by societal paranoia, be smart, that's it. Once you've moved past that vulnerable insecurity (this includes personal too) then you can start feeling more comfortable traveling and meeting new people, be smart and be prepared, humanity is evolving and a lot of society isn't prepared on how to handle it. It's beautiful, like a stream, deluge, torrent of connectivity, a tool that can both harm and connect, it's revolutionizing it all as we speak; You just need to learn how to swim when surfing the net, being connected is your safety net, don't let your negativity anchor your leg and drown you. All these personal terms are so interlinked with internet terms, it's insane how much they're based with the end goal on staying connected for as long as possible, trusting it enough that it is until death, we are the internet. I'm getting a bjork TV atlantis moment, My quote, "be as connected to people as much as you'd like your wifi to be to your device."

[@konanhuet623]

Internet socialising is okay as long as: -It's two way. Both people value eachother and no one is fantasizing on the other -You don't let it totally replace real life socialising If you start considering online socialising as "normal" and perfectly OK, then there is a problem you need to fix.

[@bucca2]

“Especially the Asian ones” UHHHHHH ACTUALLY MAYBE I WON’T BECOME A STREAMER

[@campanamanuel1614]

Before, the internet was an escape from reality. Now, reality is an escape from the internet Yes i'm 14

[@doransoran]

No it's still an escape, reality rn is horrifying

[@monbub]

Only for the people who are addicted

[@bransontsn]

i like the self awareness

[@VeryTori]

r/im14andthisisdeep lol, for real though this is deep. I feel like, though, we have come to the point where we cycle between reality and the internet. Right now we use the internet as a way to escape the things going on in reality, while also socializing with people and making up for the lack of interaction we can have right now. At the same time, the internet gets to be too much, that we need to escape from the internet, so we go to reality, to then repeat the process all over again.

[@zachbohemian]

@@doransoran my mind is an escape.

[@JREG]

Nice

[@StingyPellet]

He's not talking about you and I Jreg. Our parasocial relationship will be forever.

[@DrFartfire]

Forever, Jreg. Us... Together.

[@anonymouspanda2841]

the king of parasocial relationships

[@saintelmo150]

streaming is a dogwhistle for centrism

[@cringeclown4087]

You're gay. :)

[@RandomGamerCory]

i feel like i should be lost in stuff like this to but streamers often bore me

[@GlinkBetweenWorlds]

same actually. I always preferred streaming over watching. I think its a personality based preference.

[@unclerandy398]

same

[@callumfisher8101]

Most of the big streamers have no personality. Twitch has allowed anyone to become an entertainer meaning its filled with bottom of the barrel crud.

[@frostreaper1607]

Same, on top of that I lost my friend to a famous DnD podcast.

[@brandonclarke436]

Aris

[@nathanbasset]

Makes me sad :( There aren’t any meeting places anymore, malls are out of business, arcades are gone, restaurants make you eat.. not that we would be going their right now

[@wolfdragon4176]

It’s a bit late but I live in a town that’s never had any of these aha when we meet around here it’s just like outside the centre building and we chill in the streets

[@ZuhayrSIslam]

Actually "parasocial" invokes images of some friends paragliding together in my head

[@violenceisfun991]

Or skydivers having a conversation on the way down

[@will9143]

The final few minutes of this video really demonstrate why your videos resonate with so many people. You understand the world in which so many of us live, and attempt to dive in to the reason we live this way. I've enjoyed your videos for a long time, and enjoy seeing your videos pop up in my notifications. Thank you for the time and effort spent to create this content, and for addressing these subjects of online culture.

[@GlinkBetweenWorlds]

Thank you man, I appreciate that a lot. My goal with videos is to make people feel something and to convey an important or meaningful message that's also enjoyable to watch. I wish I could individually thank every person who appreciates my stuff.

[@TheGuiido]

Glink ANY GLINKERS??

[@Milligan777]

I've lived in near isolation for my entire adult life, and I think I prefer it that way. As I've watched these videos, however, I have started to wonder if I'm genuinely asocial, or if this is just the way human civilization in general has gone and I'm simply mindlessly following a trend.

[@baseillerichardson4658]

@Angine I'm starting to feel that it's not okay. It's okay if that's what you want, but how do you know what you actually want if you've just been goaded into it? What about this choice is really yours? Better to step away and find out for yourself.

[@Harry_Blotter]

@@baseillerichardson4658 but what's the difference between wanting something in some kind of "genuine" way versus wanting it because you've been goaded into it? What's the difference if you want it either way?

[@cheatexp]

@@Harry_Blotter i find that when i want/do something simply because i've convinced myself that's what i want, when i distance myself from said thing i look back and see i was absolutely miserable and just in denial about it. there's a difference between genuine enjoyment and the weird, sugary kind that only leaves a bad aftertaste.. sorry if i didn't explain it all too well.

[@ivannierez7731]

Keeping friends it's very much an arduous task. I guess people are less and less likely to put the work

[@CrashManUltra]

Humans are all social creatures, and we need social bonds to be healthy. However, society makes it hard.

[@kanesugar]

didnt expect to feel offended when the call and response was compared to childrens television but here we are

[@StrazdasLT]

well its true, we were conditioned since childhood into this shit.

[@Ibrahimovic4life]

@@StrazdasLT that sounds like an excuse to justify a toxic habit. Or even validate it. Get out. Find friends. Or find friends on social media and meet them irl. Oxytocin doesn't work over a 140 characters chat window.

[@StrazdasLT]

@@Ibrahimovic4life So.... me recognizing that this toxic habit is something we condition people from childhood.... is an excuse for it? what?

[@xavierpantig1772]

Sadly, I feel I've grown to be so antisocial after becoming extremely obsessed with video games and youtube in middleschool. I was pretty socially active in high school, doing lots of extracurricular things -- yet, the friends I've made, well, don't really feel like friends all anymore. Even my best friends. While the only person who's been by my side for years is my gf, I just do not enjoy "hanging out" with my "friends," and would prefer to stay home and play video games and watch youtube. Thank you for the video, I feel I am so out of touch. I just don't know what to do when I feel lonely anymore.

[@0bread286]

@Qebster If this isn't satire, you're an idiot. If it is, then you didn't present it well.

[@aIchemizedlemniscate]

@Jack Williamson hello lemon demon fan

[@Seinsmelled]

oh damn lmao feelsbadman

[@fritzfxx]

Antisocial = rapists, murderers, abusive parents, etc Asocial = hermits Big difference.

[@TheDansonT]

This is why I cherish mountain biking at my local parks. Its the healthiest thing I can do so I can get out of my house and away from the PC monitor. Getting out helps with curbing drinking too, definitely struggling with over consumption, even before the Rona I suffered with it. PC and booze = dumb decisions and wasted time & money.

[@GlinkBetweenWorlds]

Connecting with life on any level is so great for mental health and perspective. Exercising out in nature with the sun is healing for my mind as well.

[@annsanimationaddiction8024]

Using biking to get my nature photography was one of my main hobbies, but some bad points last year made me fall out of that passion and I'm having trouble getting back into it. I've also already explored all the country roads, and there's no trails near me :C

[@TheDansonT]

Anna Richards sorry to hear about that fam :( maybe try walking the country roads instead of bike the trail in reverse?

[@Brickinasock]

Biking is some good stuff bro

[@eatright909]

Damn, you're lucky. I want to start riding MTB and doing big jumps or even small jumps and pump tracks. I love the thrill of going fast down hill. I ride BMX and I live in the city which sucks because all i have is skateparks to ride, which i am grateful for but it does get stale in the long run. Unfortunately, I can't go anywhere cause no job and COVID :c

[@joshua4996]

I personally never followed any streamers. Streams take too much of my time I could've spent playing the actual game. I never understood the interactions either, since what I'll say will just get lost in the sea of texts unless I'm echoing what the rest of the mob is saying.

[@rumory]

i'm glad to see like-minded people

[@WreathStorm]

@Bobby Sands I'm not on any streaming site, but this is so relatable on every platform. I will reply to specific people on websites/apps like KZbin, but I rarely leave comments meant for the KZbinr themselves. Especially bigger KZbinrs. They're either not going to see the comment or are the type who read comments without liking. It's pointless. I don't care about the slim chance of being noticed by a stranger with a following.

[@vilukisu]

And another issue: schedules. I watch a lot of videos on youtube that are just collected bits from streams, but I generally can't be bothered to watch streams, because it forces me to watch at a given time, instead of whenever I choose.

[@ivannierez7731]

I occasionally seek out small streamers to chit chat. That's like the only reason I would jump on twich

[@HanQ28]

Yeah and I'm an introvert who spends a lot of time on my own watching films, playing games, reading and writing etc. I actually consider interacting with (most) people to be a waste of time, but streaming is just...... it's time-consuming and boring, even annoying, on a whole different level. It doesn't have an exciting storyline nor fast pacing like films/games/books. And I just can't stand that. It kinda triggers my anxiety, like my physical body would be telling me "tf are you wasting your time on this nonsense".

[@lowuhs]

Although I don’t really watch Twitch streams, I still dislike the fact that the term “chat” is used to call out the audience get their reactions. Almost every time, chat is used as a beehive adjective, they are seen as an entire entity rather than a group of people.

[@BluetheRaccoon]

Being autistic and having chronic illness, I feel pretty isolated most of the time. It's hard to get out and make friends, so I've contemplated making a YT or Twitch channel. What keeps me from doing this is knowing I am too sensitive to handle trolls, and that I really want something tangible which is the opposite of parasocial. As is mentioned in the video, one can't really chat when it's going by so quickly. I don't want another one-sided social experience.

[@maxarino]

i think a lot of people use streamers as outlets for empathy and compassion which is really unhealthy as that isn’t really their job. But, sadly I think people will do this cause they have no one else to talk to or relate to

[@mintce2238]

Watching this made me progressively more sad as I began to realize how alone I am.

[@glxssy8037]

Me too.. but I love you stranger!

[@mintce2238]

Thank you

[@happydude4278]

Now it’s time to change take the first step you can do it

[@gonzalot.605]

It's OK, pal. I'm also alone, but I'm learning to get over it. You can do it too. Just remember, you don't have to prove anything to anyone.

[@gonzalot.605]

@AMellowFellow By "overcoming loneliness" I mean: Developing actual human relations.

[@jasha7579]

If you need to pay for attention, it's not a genuine relationship/friendship. If you pay for some service, don't expect it to be a friendship I understand very well what the streamer said about not wanting to become friends with a fan just because of donations. It's not the money that makes the relationship. It's the understanding of each other. Because of this same reason I've always stayed away from any pay to chat dating sites. If the person I spoke to was truly interested, I wouldn't need to pay. There's a reason why things cost.

[@PatRick-sm5fe]

I've definitely noticed when I kind of "get lost" in someone else's streams/videos especially if I've watched them for a long time, it really feels like you have this connection to them and their community. And there are some super wholesome communities where you can make new friends and have a lot of fun. Recognising that you've been putting things off and not really taking care of your needs is probably a good sign to take a little break for a while.

[@Weighty68]

Fantastic interviewing and sourcing. This level of “games” journalism is what I hope to achieve soon with my own efforts. Thanks for the work you put in, Glink, and for being an advocate for healthy online interaction!

[@pikachusprite7749]

Weighty News media would never

[@kevindragonov9430]

I miss hanging out with other people and do things together Wen I was a teenager I used to meet with my best friend and girlfriend every week to play video games, listen to music, watch movies and stuff like that.. We finished resident evil 4 dozens of times together, best phase of my life I don't know how I ended up in this rabbit hole where I just interact with people online and watch porn, I'm badly depressed for sure but I dont know what came first or what to do about it Totally agree with the guy that said in the comments that most people dont live like that, people still get together and do things, not as they used to do but not everybody is a loner in front of the pc all the time, but it looks like everybody is going that way, artificial interactions are replacing real ones more and more

[@jericosha2842]

Wow this is a raw and honest comment. Thanks for sharing.

[@11123fsd]

Quit porn and social media it will help you out a lot. I was in a similar spot as you and this is what helped me.

[@halvargaerup5162]

Thanks for sharing, I feel the same way! Cheers and keep going!

[@loto7197]

Interestingly, this isn't limited to just streaming. This has been going on for years in different industries. As a bartender I can tell you my regulars are none too different from the regulars of some streams. It does equate to loneliness more often than not but not always

[@kibaroku2134]

Woah that’s crazy, I’ve been a server for 6 years and every restaurant I’ve worked in has had regulars, people who literally say that this is the one conversation they’re having in the whole day..

[@loto7197]

@@kibaroku2134 those with no social skills end up paying to socialize in a number of ways or will turn to drugs/alcohol, if they haven't already become a recluse. We all have a need for companionship.

[@mk-yt8og]

I remember when Etika once said that he missed the times when his streams were quite small and at that time I didn't get it; the more viewers the better, right? Now I feel like his massive streams and the toxic behavior of the chat contributed majorly to the deterioration of his mental health. Rest in peace, Desmond.

[@grilledmoistpeepee6682]

Werner Herzog said in 80's that 21st century will be a century of solitude.

[@misterprofessor5038]

I know that guy. Goes by the name of Wanna SqueezeHog on Twitch.

[@kerosan138]

@@misterprofessor5038LMAO

[@cranberrycanvas]

doesnt solitude have a positive connation to it tho?

[@sirshrooma]

@@cranberrycanvas I don't think so, it is neither positive or negative unless you've only used it in one way or the other. Isolation, Seclusion, Confinement are all the same in that way in my opinion.

[@biavechiato]

@@sirshrooma isolation has bad connotations to it

[@GMMReviews]

I had a very small cult following on a podcast a did a couple years ago. We have like 1,000 subscribers, and about 100ish would comment frequently. Got to know a couple of them. Don't do the podcast anymore, but my main 3 best online friends, are old fans of my crappy podcast I did 3 years ago.

[@KeithKillingly]

I streamed for 4 years and I never really "took off" but I had a group of regulars I could bond with. I had a taste of a hectic chat a few times with raids and stuff or just by random luck getting traction and i kinda wouldn't like it. When that happens it's not really a social activity anymore, you just kinda sit there and talk to yourself, instead of your friends. Well it's weird, i'd like it because it's cool to feel "popular" but it's not the same kind of enjoyment

[@noxu2441]

From my perspective which has streamed for some time and watched a streamer that grew from 10 views to 200 views, streaming allows me to express myself with little to no repercussion and seeing that one or a couple people talking gets me excited. And on the other hand, watching a streamer over 3 years on and off grow from a couple views to over a hundred of views had me feel like I was getting to know him. I started watching this streamer (WooHooLad) when I was in a bad part of my life, as stupid as it sounds, I was 14, depressed and thinking about taking my life. I was wasting time on KZbin when his streamed popped up and I clicked on it. I was one of the ten viewers he had. He kept on replying to my comments and I was happy, it made me feel great. I kept on watching him and I started to feel like a friend. I was there every minute I could. After a while I started to get into a better place and he kept growing. I would follow him when he switched from KZbin to Mixer or Twitch, but he started to grow more. It got to the point where the many interactions in stream to only a couple in the stream. I felt good for him, but was also sad, I no longer felt like I knew him. I still watch him and is known as one of the OG's, but I feel like I am no longer am known. About a couple months ago I realized how bad this mind set was so I started to distance myself. I feel proud for myself for doing this, and I hope Woo does his best too. I drop in time to time but my life is much more busy and have little no time to watch. I am no longer see myself as Dank Lank trying to get attention by his favorite streamer, I see myself as Nathan trying to do everything he can with his life.

[@ca-ke9493]

Before i ended up on Twitch, I used youtube vloggers parasocially for years. Then during the pandemic i found Twitch and I ended up watching streamers freaking set up their game for half an hour. Its so easy to get wrapped up in the parasocial relationship. For me its not even to the streamer, but to the chat/comment section. I had to take a step back and actively stop.

[@salmonella43]

I haven't left my house for several months because of social anxiety. Watching twitch makes me feel like I'm having social interaction without the part that I dont like: fear of doing something wrong in front of people.

[@amystic4131]

I’m in the same situation as you too! I haven’t been out in 7 months, and the fact that school is currently online hasn’t been helping. I’ve been resorting to twitch streams to have that feeling of connecting with someone, but my social skills have massively deteriorated, and I’ve also developed agoraphobia/social anxiety.

[@kg7111]

same

[@phoebe8958]

same here :((

[@blanck00xd12]

I know this sounds rude. But please go out and try. Its better than agonizingly thinking about what the perfect social interaction situation for you. Try and make mistakes! Yes first impressions make an impact but doesn't mean you can vonstantly change and work on your image over a long period of time. Just try.

[@salmonella43]

@@blanck00xd12 it's not rude at all, thank you (. ❛ ᴗ ❛.) I'm much better now tho. And yes, I've gotten better by going out. In case this could help someone reading: if you stop doing something because of anxiety, everytime you have to do that thing (going out) it'll be even worse, and if you do that thing *regardless of your fear*, it'll get easier everytime. So maybe the first 5 times you'll be shitting your pants but after some tries, *you'll be ok! ( ꈍᴗꈍ)*

[@MegaHellstrike]

It's really hard to remember that (almost) every username on your screen is an actual human, the way a lot of people act on the internet makes it super clear that they either can't or don't want to see this connection. On the other side, never forget that you're an individual and being part of a club of hundreds or thousands of people undermines your individuality. It's fun to spam POGGERS in the chat every now and then but eventually you'll find yourself doing things because everyone around you does it and eventually you forget that you could have a personality. Also, if you ever think about donating to a girl streamer to get their attention: don't do it. Don't be a simp, she's never ever going to kiss you.

[@mngmng_]

Player 3 has joined: VTUBERS

[@hizia3846]

After watching this video I can imagine the new social and mental issues that wil arise because of the Internet. People have, since ages old, always been fascinated with escapism (f.e. books, movies, theatre, games and vacations). The internet however can serve as a permanent escape chute, as small as a phone. Permanent escapism. In short; take care of your health. Escaping once in a while is fine, but don't run away from your own life. ❤️

[@TheSillymansam]

this is the "notice me sempai" documentary.

[@CHEFPKR]

When I went full time on KZbin, I also wanted to stream on twitch a few times a week. I only stream on twitch 2 nights a week for 2-3 hours max. This allows me have a break on the weekends when I'm not filming or editing for my channel. It's super important.

[@chronometa]

That's smart.

[@ali32bit42]

the small streamer thing is really true. the ONLY streamer i ever watched only had 15 viewers at max. right now were pretty close friends. because the interactions were not one sided. heck we even did a blender collaboration on discord. if youre gunna watch streams . watch the smaller ones . big ones are not worth it .

[@leoortiiiz]

"Be like me and do the same exact things I did because i'm right and you shouldn't do what I don't do"

[@hotpawsmathsandscience3124]

​@@leoortiiiz this is called "sharing your experience", it doesn't always come with using all the rights words to make it absolutely impossible to misinterpret

[@leoortiiiz]

@@hotpawsmathsandscience3124 I understand the guy's point but him writing "Watch the smalled ones, big ones are not worth it" like it's a fact and not a matter of personal opinion is dumb

[@melodywawichi802]

I feel fairly invisible in chats with 30+ concurrent viewers.. so I frankly don’t bother watching those that often. I agree with the sentiment.

[@ali32bit42]

@Crow i mean the whole point of streaming is the viewer interaction. otherwise youre just watching super long and usually boring youtube videos

[@bobzeepl]

0:50 remember the bald 40 years old friend you had back in the 90s? those were the days

[@jonettheonly]

Pokimane is a real person? I thought I hallucinated that name.

[@latteknowsbest6365]

ジョネーJonét right 💀💀

[@tripleoof8159]

Unfortunately, reality can be disappointing.

[@MahDryBread]

I swear, the editing just keeps getting better! I have a lot of weird feelings about how dedicated some of my viewers are to my show. A lot of these people have grown up with me and developed alongside me for the last 10 years. It's hard to describe. I do feel like some of these people are friends, or at least peers or classmates, if that makes sense. But the line is incredibly fuzzy.

[@wifeywubs]

This is honestly so helpful. I appreciate everyone's insight, both streamers and viewers. Lately I've been struggling with my streams because I worry that I'm too boring without my friends in Discord giving me someone to bounce off of so I can make jokes and stuff and be entertaining. I've been on Twitch for nearly 2 years and made affiliate pretty quickly (as in a few months), and since then I've been stuck in the rut of concurrent viewership. I set my schedule to better match my viewers while trying to maintain a semi-normal schedule for the rest of my life. I feel guilty when IRL things happen and I'm forced to skip a stream, because I'm afraid that I'll fall into complete and utter irrelevancy. It's hard, because I just want to make jokes and play games with my friends, and give my viewers a break from their own lives, but several times I've been harrassed by trolls because I don't show my chest and I rarely wear makeup. It's hard to keep myself grounded sometimes and to remember that trolls don't matter, but when I've only got one or two people watching it scares me to think I'll lose them over stuff like that. :(

[@AmallieGames]

This is a big problem for me if I'm honest. I am a 30 year old woman, I work from home in a very demanding job (software architect), and i have basically no friends these days because I am too tired and isolated to cultivate that. My existing close friends have all moved away and most have started families. I have a boyfriend who i see 1-2 times a week, and my mom lives nearby so I see her some. I calculated it once and on average I'm alone 90-95% of the time. I usually have KZbin or twitch on in the background when I'm alone and not working. I've noticed when I don't do this, I tend to get really sad. It's become this social pacifier for me to keep from spiraling into a loneliness fueled self pity fit. I want my life to look different, but if I'm honest I don't even know how to change this. I've been lonely my entire adult life.

[@theuday99]

there are chrome plugins that block websites you can use them to help

[@guttsu]

That Mad Max Fury Road clip was perfect.

[@jericosha2842]

Yeah it's pretty much Twitch in a nutshell. It's gross.

[@timingmile7030]

I owned an instagram page for a few years and had a pretty decent following of people. It started out small and fun, making quick edits of stuff I liked but then it became really stressful as more and more people would like my content. I felt the need to be the "first" to upload a new trendy edit or it would not get as many likes. I would constantly monitor my progress and it stressed me out till I quit. I made some fun friends but nothing that stayed once I left. I'm glad I left, the amount of time I spent online was consuming and I became lonely, devoting so much time to something that I began cutting off friends and family just to be online. And for nothing. Once you leave, someone new will fill the space, either doing the same thing or something different. It is so fickle and strange.

[@timothyaster4337]

Idk, I find streams extremely exhausting, just like any social interaction. It's fun sometimes, but most of the time, watching youtube videos is just easier.

[@semidecent4395]

Over time, I’ve slowly abandoned social media. I never go on Instagram, I stopped using Snapchat like a month ago, and I never even downloaded Twitter. But KZbin has ultimately been my biggest crutch when it comes to internet usage. “Bro just get off of it” You’re so right, but it’s gotten to a point where I don’t know what else I would do. My family doesn’t have Netflix or Hulu or anything like that, and my siblings are just as engrossed in technology as I am. I’d rather not say how much time I spend on this site, but it’s a lot. I guess my question is, if I toned down my youtube usage then what would I replace my time with? I’m open to suggestions, even joke ones. But I think it’s about time I start trying to limit myself a little more.

[@saltypear7397]

Maybe get a creative hobby, like learning how to draw, make mini clay figures or even learn how to knit. Something mindless. Or you could try occasionally doing something like online charity work. Or you could try writing a book or some fanfic.

[@TheCalmPsycho]

@@saltypear7397 Fanfics are dangerous to someone too deep into the rabbit hole because it only further entices interaction with potentially addicting relationships, and mindless tasks are just as bad because KZbin would just be supplemental background noise. Sports, dating, hobbies that require attention, finding an intriguing subject or language to study, or hanging out with family more are all things that would work.

[@silverwis3603]

I know where you’re coming from, I don’t use social media except for KZbin, but it can be just as negative but in different ways. For me it’s instead of seeing people that I know irl posting and feeling bad about myself, it’s just become a huge time killer. Something that’s helpful for me is making KZbin a solely background activity. I try to only watch stuff while I’m making an art project like painting or making jewelry, or while I’m doing homework in the background. Eventually it starts to feel weird to watch KZbin by itself and I’ll get the urge to get up and do something with it. Also, putting a screen time limit helps if it’s on your phone. I don’t know my own passcode and had someone else set it for me, so when the hour is up I can’t do much but shrug and find something else to do. I know this is late but hope that helps!

[@JudicialBrat]

Read books that interest you. Work out

[@enf0rcer.x]

Skate and destroy property.

[@hazyviews999]

That Nujabes intro put a smile on my face right away! God I love him

[@horacegentleman3296]

R.I.P.

[@wajihbec1087]

Same! 1 second in!

[@vianabdullah2837]

Spoiled by having Glink and EmpLemon upload at the same day.

[@bunnywavyxx9524]

I have always been a very introverted and internal person. I suppose I've avoided this problem somewhat because I can never get attached to KZbinrs, celebs, etc.; I'll find a channel that I do genuinely love a lot and just get disinterested in a few months time. But I have been slipping into this problem the past few years. This quarantine has been hell for me and I've been falling into more and more escapisms lately. I remember a few years back when me and two good friends were talking, I recall both of them saying, "I don't like to be alone with my thoughts." To which I replied, "I do." At the time I genuinely did. I liked being alone, and thinking as well. Nothing in the background, no television, music, nothing. Since I've reached a new rock bottom during this isolation though, my mentality has changed. Honestly, I don't like to be alone with my thoughts; I don't even like thinking too much about anything. Now I can recall times I've been guilty of wanting a youtube video running mindlessly in the background, or wanting to eat food while watching a mukbang. I feel strange with how much this video resonates with me, as I've never considered myself to be lonely. This is a very well done video. I think this is something that has affected everyone with quarantine magnifying it, I'm glad someone has properly touched up on this topic.

[@yavuzmarifet4528]

Like 6-7 years I've grown up with KZbin. Minecraft videos, gamers and all that game commentary things were my coping mechanism. I wasn't a weird kid they just didn't accept me, I was always outcast, alone. That's why I'm addicted to my phone, that addiction built in like 6 years and it's not easy to get over. When I try to text messages to my real life friends they don't text me back in short time, but when I search a video it's here and always will be with me. That's the point some people don't understand I'm not lonely because of my phone. I have my phone around because I'm lonely.

[@yavuzmarifet4528]

I'm 17

[@AshepEli-YT]

Damn, same, and now I have that exact same problem

[@navisochi]

The internet's a very strange place when it comes to social interactions. Especially on platforms like twitch, especially with small streamers. You get to see the people who come back over and over, and slowly the viewers all bond and whatnot. Community is such an interesting part of life Recently I got to watch a close friend of mine's stream, and it was small. It was just watching that friend draw, but even then the other 3-5 people in the stream started talking to one another. Commenting on the drawing, it was nice.

[@saisameer8771]

Twitch streaming as a career sounds incredibly stressful and completely meaningless.

[@tusia3899]

I think it requires sacrifices I wouldn't be able to make

[@rickyricardo9710]

aren't most careers meaningless nowadays? I don't see what working a cut and paste office job offers that being a twitch streamer doesn't.

[@saisameer8771]

@@rickyricardo9710 All careers have their advantages and disadvantages I guess.

[@tusia3899]

@@rickyricardo9710 it offers stability, time for your family and friends outside of work and fixed working time, where you know how much work will get you x amount of money. Some people really need that. And it is important, especially considering only a small % of streamers can make a career out of it

[@rickyricardo9710]

@@tusia3899 twitch can offer all of those things too? Most professional streamers have a schedule

[@harryvpn1462]

Whenever I watch twitch I go for low viewer count streamers, its nice to know your presence there makes a difference

[@nadebothd4006]

This is why twitch should be a alternate form of money or entertainment in your life, be it your the streamer or viewer you should always have a job or outside source to venture into the world to make real connections. I'm an introvert and would have never met my wife had I not got out of my shell and started going into the world.

[@nunothedude]

I was once like these people, during my childhood i was plagued with abusive parents, divorce, Bullying among other personal problems wich destroyed my will to live, gave me depression, suicidal tougth and tendencies, destroyed my self esteem and motivation and gave me trauma, it was only after i decided to stand up for myself (Not letting people disrespect me and push me around, fougth for my future and tried to fix my life) and decided to (try to) forget all the shit and betrayals over my life, and move on from my past that my life started getting somewhat better. Keep in mind that your problems, your depression won't go away, they will always come back to try and make yourself feel lile shit but in those times it's important to distance yourself from the negative voice and distract yourself with gaming or friends, don't let that voice limit your enjoyment of your life, ignore it push it away, and remind yourself you deserve to be happy and aren't less of a person because of your struglle. I tried doing something about my depression and fears, basicly i was figthing myself until i finnally found my best friend in 2020, someone who likes me for who i am and has helped me with my problems and worrys, as we speak i am trying to recover my studies and i am working on myself, im trying to be more open minded, im trying to lift my Iron wall that protects my feelings and pushes people away, i'm trying to make new friends, im trying to move on from gaming and doing other things like Be more social, doing exercise,find a girlfriend and friends, cuz fuck me i'm like 19 and had no female friends or a GF for that matter, so to those in the same dark pit please don't give up and don't try to kill yourself (like i did), try to find someone anyone (Friends, maybe talk to your parents if they aren't pieces of shit, etc) and trust me for years all i did was play games and fell like shit, now i do allot of exercise and hang out with my friend and go biking with my other schoolmates on the weekends, so yeah at one point i totally gave up on my life and myself, now my life isnt good but its stable (i guess? idk i feel like something bad is gonna happen its not normal for things to not be fucked in my life) so please don't give up, figth for yourself and love yourself, to be respected and loved you need to do the same for youself. DO SOMETHING TO IMPROVE YOUR CURRENT SITUATION, DON'T GIVE UP LIKE I DID! Also id like to say if you have abusive parents get out, call social services police, anything, i regret not getting taken away from my mother because i was afraid of being alone. If all you did was get bullied from 5th grade to 8th grade idk what to tell you... sorry. So humm, yeah figth for your happiness you aren't at fault for the bad hand you're dealt with, you started with a shitty life its up to you to finish it with happiness. (Sorry for my bad english)

[@selfnico]

Thank you for writing this

[@michaelmalanot8506]

This comment is one of the rare good KZbin comments. I genuinely hope that things get better for you because it does seem you are putting a genuine effort into making your life better.

[@chilli1472]

yeah but also therapy would be nice I guess

[@JoKaiGonZo]

I miss my old days where livestreams just consistented of Pokemon gameplay and streams of Japanese game shows.

[@Thalanox]

There's a livestream of Bob Ross episodes if you look for it. That's all that channel does, I think.

[@moki3997]

the first time Reckful got a donation it was meaningful, there was a story between viewer and streamer. People saw the free money and they wanted a taste of it, they got it but without the meaning and now they get upset with the fans because they get attached to the streamer. So many copy cats

[@youtubeminute4388]

“You see people get absolutely destroyed online for a mistake” oh that aged absolutely horrible. Great video!

[@youtubeminute4388]

@Nobody comments are not funny you troglodyte as in they dont get destroyed. they get cancelled

[@MrBubbaSkeeter]

I finally understand the appeal of twitch to so many.

[@MrGetownedLP]

"The great challenge of technology and our time is emerging from the chasm of isolation, which is so easy to fall into, and instead form connections we can find meaning in." Well said!!

[@jori3361]

when i read your top comment about watching the entire video i thought “yeah that might not happen.” i just watched the whole video beginning to end. this video is amazingly thoughtful and i like how it doesn’t bash live-streaming or internet relationships, it shows reality. interviewing real streamers gave powerful insight. your final comment about not spending too much time watching other people really hit home. thank you for making this.

[@weirdthoughts5420]

I sat through the first few minutes and laughed at how I've never been so lonely to do any of this, but then I remembered 4 weeks ago I was busy crying and then I found this not so big creator playing a game so I watched them and communicated with them. It gave me so much serotonin to receive special goodbyes on streams too, so I guess we'll always be at that point. Someway somehow

[@charleiii]

in the sea of comments, i just have to say this is a good video

[@GlinkBetweenWorlds]

Thank you

[@connor8514]

Rip reckful

[@sorcey6957]

@Cosmin Costea fuck off shithead

[@jadedtermite2513]

@Cosmin Costea Edgy and original. Keep it classy.

[@zyncra3965]

What happened this time? Haven't followed the guy in about a year

[@connor8514]

Zyncra he died

[@jakecowger6917]

@Cosmin CosteaI hope you get help. One day you are going to realize how disrespectful and ugly your comments are, and I hope the shame and guilt don't push you over the edge.

[@AllenReviews]

i'm really loving these video essay style of videos along with interviewing people of the community that you're commenting on. Really entertaining. Keep it up

[@anzui]

this is fine in moderation. i casually watch streamers (usually in the background, when im already busy doing something with my hands like drawing or eating). if their chat is bustling I won't interact, it's only when their chat is slow I try to talk a lot to make them feel good. But it's not just random streamers; I mean I watch those too, but I always try to get to watch my irl friends first.