“there's always a twitch controversy like every other month”
– Nameless Rumia

Twitch is a live streaming service, which spun off from Justin.tv in 2011, and was acquired by Amazon for $970 million in 2014.¹⁾ The platform mostly focuses on video game streaming, but it has expanded to include all sorts of content²⁾³⁾⁴⁾ despite the baggage of doing so.⁵⁾

For a general idea, Twitch has housed a wide range of content and events, which include competitive gaming (i.e. esports), speedrunning, multiplayer roleplaying (namely GTA RP on NoPixel or Prodigy), automated gimmicks (e.g. SaltyBet, Twitch Plays), and variety streaming with some amount of 'flavor of the month' content sprinkled in. While it is quite permissive, there are restrictions per community guidelines.

A subathon, jokingly called a scamathon, is a special 'marathon' event where the streamer keeps streaming until time is up. There will be variables like capped–uncapped,⁶⁾ segmented–continuous,⁷⁾ and time added. However, be mindful that moderators may be needed in uncommon hours, their community guidelines do forbid self-destructive behavior, and 'sleep cams' are weird.

• Additional emotes / Enhancement suite (pick one)
  • 7TV
    Twitch, Kick, and YouTube. Supports BTTV and FFZ emotes by default. Controversial start.⁸⁾⁹⁾
  • BetterTTV (BTTV)
    Twitch and YouTube. Supports FFZ and 7TV emotes by default.
  • FrankerFaceZ (FFZ)
    Twitch only. The 7TV and BTTV modules have to be enabled. Recommended, if you have a brain.
• TTV LOL PRO
  One of many 'ad blocking' extensions, no guarantees. Do check this or this.

• TwitchDownloader
  Twitch-specific tool for downloading VODs, clips, and chat logs. Both CLI and GUI are available.

• Be careful with parasocial relationships or celebrity worship syndrome. Most streamers are just entertainers who literally sit in front of a computer for a living, so they aren't the best role models.
• Partnered streamers aren't allowed to disclose their income, unless they have a grandfathered contract, but there have been leaks like the 4chan leak for August 2019 to October 2021.^10)11)12)
• Amazon had intended to have Twitch compete with Discord and Steam, which actually explains the Curse LLC acquisition¹³⁾ and sloppy integration,^14)15)16) but this was a complete failure.¹⁷⁾¹⁸⁾
• In the past, you couldn't change your username until February 24, 2017,¹⁹⁾ so you were forced to make a new account. This is why my current account was made in 2014 instead of, like, 2012.
• There used to be a global Inmu-related Twitch emote called 'ArigatoNas', referencing KBTIT's famous eggplant-related catchphrase, from 2017²⁰⁾ to 2020.²¹⁾ This did invoke minor complaints.²²⁾²³⁾
• Both of the usual laughing emotes, 'LUL' (TotalBiscuit)²⁴⁾ and 'KEKW' (El Risitas), are deceased.
• During the 2020 U.S. election cycle, users showing the CNN-hosted debates were suspended.²⁵⁾
• The exact rule prohibiting letting suspended users on your stream, unless a case can be made that it was beyond the streamer's control, is 'suspension evasion' in the community guidelines.
• In 2023, simulcasting on rival platforms was briefly banned, except for 'mobile-first' services (e.g. TikTok, Instagram). This policy was later revised during TwitchCon, allowing simulcasting as long as the streamer isn't actively sabotaging the platform or partnered under an exclusivity deal.²⁶⁾
  • Historically, Smashcast (Azubu + Hitbox) and Mixer were alternatives. Nowadays, you have YouTube, Kick, and Facebook, followed by niche ones like Trovo and Rumble.
• Why the hell is Los Angeles, California and Austin, Texas a hotspot for streamers, anyways…?

• NoPixel
• Pepe the Frog
• Twitch Plays Pokémon

• Twitch (Status) - The front page of Twitch and its status page.
• TwitchTheater, Multistre.am, Multitwitch - For watching multiple Twitch streams at once.
• TwitchTracker and SullyGnome - For channel statistics and other useful data.
• Clipr - Easier way to download Twitch clips. The link must have clips.twitch.tv, I think.
• TwitchTest - For bandwidth testing. Alternative to the official Twitch Inspector.
• @StreamerBans on Twitter - A public log of partnered streamers getting banned and unbanned.
• Twitch Clip Queue - Common tool for letting a chatroom send clips to the streamer.