Introduction:
Let’s read the following data together before we start the article: A 2018 survey carried out by the Interactive Advertising Bureau reported that 47% of live streaming video viewers worldwide are watching more live videos compared to a year ago. According to Go-Globe, live streaming is expected to account for 82% of all internet traffic by 2020. While the incomparable level of interaction and engagement brought by live streaming partly explained its popularity in the modern society, this article will explore further the beauty of live streaming from different perspectives.
Immediacy and Transparency
Overshadowing traditional recorded video or TV shows, live-streaming platforms like YouNow, Live me and Bigo live enabled its user to broadcast what they are doing to the mass immediately without delay. An evolution of TV, live streaming makes life easier as it can be performed and consumed on any internet enabled device such as a smart phone and tablet. As a result, entertainment exists within more democracy and audiences maintain control of what they watch. Allowing engagement with original, unrehearsed and unedited content.
Skills and Attention
Live streaming provides the best platform for people especially younger generations to showcase their skills to a wide range of audiences at minimal investment. In the world of live streaming, identity is a “blurry” concept. Even if you are a kid, with your own talents and personality, you are given equal opportunity to be seen as a creator within the comforts of their desired location. Many live broadcasting apps enable their users to live stream to social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Youtube, drawing more attention and reaching more audiences for them.
Interaction and Audience
Instead of watching prepackaged videos at home with no one to discuss with, viewers now can participate in the running commentary during live streaming and exchange their perspective with other viewers in the live streaming room. At the same time, based on such instant feedback, broadcasters can adjust their content all the time to create more stimulating engagement. On one hand, living streaming provides the greatest platform for both viewers and audiences to practice their communication skills through real time interactions. On the other hand, while traditional videos on demand or TV shows are generally one-way communication, live streaming helps build relationships between broadcasters and audiences, and even between audiences and audiences. In the near future, it will play an even more important role in social network and dating.
Individual Benefits
Why audience engagements matters? For audiences, watching live streaming is a shortcut to staying in touch with what is trending. Audiences watch live streaming topics relevant to industries, raise important inquiries, gain valuable insights from professionals, and overall utilize it to enrich their lives. For streamers, live streaming is a lucrative platform which has helped them earn considerable profits well beyond the bounds of their average salaries. From bars to diamonds and rockets, users can purchase special in-app currency to send different virtual gifts to broadcasters who can later cash out the gifts with a fixed amount of fiat currency. Virtual gifts are not only a monetary bonus to broadcasters’ income but also an emotional support from their audiences. Such high level of admiring will boost the broadcaster’s confidence and encourage more high-quality content in the future.
