In a new study published in the journal Humanities and Social Sciences Communication, researchers looked at sexual content on Twitch.tv, a live streaming giant that boasts 3 million daily viewers worldwide. Their analysis of nearly 2,000 live streams revealed some worrying trends. Women self-sexualize more frequently and intensely than men, suggesting a broader pattern of ‘pornography’ in digital content to seduce viewers.
Research on traditional media (such as television and film) has extensively documented the sexualization of women and its consequences. However, the interactive and user-driven nature of new digital platforms like Twitch.tv introduces new dynamics that warrant exploration, especially as they become integral to daily entertainment and social interactions.
Unlike traditional media, where depictions of women are often controlled by outside organizations, platforms like Twitch.tv allow individuals to curate their own online personas. This autonomy raises questions about the factors that promote self-sexualization, such as social pressure, the pursuit of popularity, and platform economic incentives.
“We were intrigued by this topic due to the growing popularity of live streaming platforms like Twitch.tv and public concerns about the sexual culture that can occur in these environments. , we wanted to investigate how this culture specifically manifests based on the gender of the streamer,” say the study authors. Cristel Anciones Anguitaprofessor at the University of Alcalá, Chair of Gender Studies Isabel Muñoz Caravaca and member of the INTED group.
“Our research aimed to uncover the nature and extent of sexual culture in heavily masculinized environments such as live streaming platforms. We investigated how they rely on the pornification of content to achieve their goals, and the potential impact on the perceptions and behaviors of users, particularly teenagers who have not yet internalized their beliefs about sexuality.”
First, the researchers collected a sample of 1,920 video clips from Twitch.tv. These clips were selected based on their popularity within the platform’s most frequently used categories. The sampling process was conducted from September to October 2022 and focused on the top videos within the video games and “In Real Life” (IRL) categories. These videos were further categorized into subcategories such as “JustChatting,” “ASMR,” and “pool.” , hot tub and beach. ” This cross-sectional sampling aimed to capture the diversity of content and streaming practices on the platform.
The researchers excluded videos that didn’t display the streamer’s image or featured unrealistic images, such as cartoons or 3D human representations. Each livestream was then rated based on a combination of factors including clothing, exposed body parts, image focus, posture, and sexually suggestive behavior.
The results revealed clear gender differences in self-sexualization. It turns out that while the platform has a higher number of male streamers overall, female streamers engage in self-sexualization much more extensively and intensely. Of the entire sample, only two male streamers were classified as “hypersexual,” compared to 389 male streamers. Similarly, out of the entire sample, only 5 female streamers were classified as “sexual” compared to 190 male streamers.
Female streamers were more likely to wear revealing clothing, have the camera focus on their entire body, and exhibit behaviors and postures considered seductive or overtly sexual. These findings highlight a notable difference in the presentation of content, with female streamers often leveraging their appearance and sexuality to attract viewers. In contrast, male streamers typically focus their streams on gaming prowess, conversation, or other non-sexual content, and rarely use appearance as their primary means of engagement.
“We were surprised to see a huge difference in the level of sexual content in content based on the gender of streamers,” Anciones Anguita told SciPost. “While men focus their content on conversations and video games, we find that the majority of streamers who wear less clothing, simulate sexual acts, or display provocative poses are women. did.”
The study also revealed category-specific trends, revealing that self-sexual orientation is not evenly distributed across Twitch.tv. Categories traditionally associated with gaming showed a lower prevalence of sexual content among female streamers. In contrast, categories such as ASMR and “pools, hot tubs, and beaches” not only had a higher proportion of women, but also had much higher levels of sexualization.
The findings of this study raise important concerns about the pressures and incentives that promote self-sexualization on digital platforms like Twitch.tv. These patterns of self-sexualization also have potential effects on shaping viewers’ attitudes toward gender and sexuality.
“The intersection of self-objectification with issues such as sexual exploitation and human trafficking highlights the urgent need for platforms and policymakers to address these complex challenges,” said Anciones-Anguita. he said. “Especially because, despite references to the concept of sexual freedom, self-sexualization often responds to patriarchal ideas built on masculine ideology.”
While this study reveals important trends, it also has limitations, including its focus on specific Twitch.tv categories. Future research could examine long-term trends, examine less popular streamers, or incorporate mixed methods to explore a more complete spectrum of the Twitch.tv experience and its impact on both streamers and viewers. A longitudinal design may be used to capture
“Our long-term goals in research in this area include understanding how online sexual culture affects adolescent girls and boys, and building more inclusive and healthy online communities.” This includes developing a better understanding of how we can address this issue,” Anciones-Anguita said.
“This study is just the beginning, and there is much more to explore regarding the pornification of culture and the psychological impact it has on users. This study will stimulate further research and discussion on this important topic.” I hope so.”
the study, “Sexual culture on live streaming platforms: A content analysis of Twitch.tv” is written by Christel Anciones-Anguita and Mirian Checa-Romero.
