How Live Streaming Shapes Gen Z Behaviour

Video live streaming has gained popularity over the last few years. Whether it’s on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or other social media platforms, the content being broadcasted ranges from comedy shows to people playing video games and more. People are getting paid to chat, eat, and sleep on camera.

This interest in live streaming has caused a spike in Gen Z’s usage of platforms where it’s available. Because Gen Z has had an early exposure to live streaming compared to other generations, it’s influencing their behaviour and reshaping how they communicate and interact with others in their peer groups and society as a whole. If people are getting paid to sleep on camera how far has live streaming influenced us?

How is Live Streaming Gaining more Notoriety?

One of the major reasons why almost anything is possible online these days is because social media platforms, both old and new, are working tirelessly to make online interactions more intimate than they could have been predicted decades ago. Several studies have proven that more Gen Zs and a great number of millennials interact more with friends from behind a screen. This is not surprising since the average teenager spends over seven hours a day on digital devices.

More younger music enthusiasts are seeking to have more control over their music experiences. And TikTok is already leading in offering what they want. The platform has made more artists famous with almost zero PR efforts.

Live videos on Instagram and other platforms now offer fans the opportunity to see what their idols are doing at any point. Add that to the boundless amount of personalized content online, why would a Gen Z teenager want to drop his smartphone?

What Makes Live Video so Addictive?

There's something about live video that's just so addicting. Maybe it's the fact that you can't predict what's going to happen next, or maybe it's the feeling of being a part of something in the moment. Whatever the reason, live streaming has become a huge part of Gen Z culture.

Even more than social media and texting, live video is becoming the go-to form of communication. It's easy to understand why when you think about how much time teens and young adults spend watching YouTube videos and watching their favorite streamers play games online. As they grow up and start their own careers, Gen Z will continue to shape society with how they communicate with one another.

Meeting People Online

Another major reason live video streaming is growing popular is because people want to more opportunities to interact with what they see online. They want more than video chats and YouTube videos. They want to share moments as they are experiencing them and interact with their friends 24/7.

While the older generation that grew up without gadgets might find it strange to watch a stranger go about their day online, watching random strangers do stuff online is just another day in a Gen Z’s life. Because why is someone getting paid to eat and sleep on camera?

“People Want to Spend More Time Together”. This is a quote from Facebook’s Head of Messenger Stan Chudnovsky. Social media platforms understand that it is easy for social media to take more of people’s time because naturally, people love to spend more time with loved ones.

They fully understand and are utilizing this tendency and that’s why we have live streaming excelling today. It is also worth noting that video chats were already a thing, but the COVID-19 lockdown made live streaming explode.

Live Streaming Platforms Offer Varying Interaction Opportunities

Platforms like YouNow, UpLive, and Twitch have all found success by incorporating some level of interaction between the streamer and the audience. This interaction can be in the form of taking questions from viewers, giving virtual gifts/ monetization, playing games with them, or even just talking to them in real-time. This engagement keeps viewers coming back for more, and it's something that Gen Z values.

Big techs in the industry too, like Instagram and TikTok, have more share of online users. However, each of these platforms is slightly unique in the type of content they provide and how they provide it. And that’s another major reason Gen Z are addicted to their smartphones; because they watch these platforms go mainstream and hop on the latest one, increasing the amount of time they spend behind their screens.

We Want a Sense of Closeness with Inspirational Figures

We value being able to interact with our idols and figures of importance through live streaming because we want a sense of inclusion. In addition, we also love being able to share in someone else's experience without feeling left out. Watching somebody play a video game live feels much more personal than watching a recording on YouTube.

The Future of Live Streaming

As we move into 2023, it's evident that live streaming is here to stay. This technology has shaped the way we consume content and connect with one another. For Gen Z, live streaming is a part of everyday life.

From vloggers on YouTube to gamers on Twitch, this generation has embraced live streaming in a big way. So what does the future hold for live streaming? It’s difficult to say but as tech continues to grow and change, so will our behaviour.

In recent years, as smartphones have become more powerful and video chat apps like Snapchat have been released, people are spending less time watching television because they can get all their entertainment from their phones or laptop.

The reason for this shift is that people are consuming media more passively than actively—they're binge-watching TV shows rather than sitting down for an hour at a time to watch them—and mobile devices allow users to do this easily on the go.

And of course, TVs don’t offer us the exciting opportunity to watch someone eat and sleep live on camera!

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Written by CalypsoRoom Editorial Team
The CalypsoRoom Editorial Team is a skilled and diverse group of writers, researchers, and industry specialists who have access to Calypso's data and information in order to give you broad knowledge about the music industry as well as helpful advice to help you manage your music and dancing career.

Updated January 2023