Black Twitch Streamer Sees Viewership Jump After Using White Avatar
From Green Screen to Viral Growth:
Just Relax Kid, a Black streamer on Twitch, experienced a surprising surge in viewership after temporarily swapping his usual green screen setup for an avatar of a white man.
Zach, the streamer behind the “Just Relax Kid” handle, has been a fixture on the platform for over a decade and boasts a near nine-year partnership.
His content typically revolves around gaming, with viewers enjoying his comedic reactions alongside his gameplay.
One day, Zach decided to ditch the camera for a stream.
Instead, he opted for a generic illustration – a bearded white man with glasses, a common choice for faceless creators and VTubers.
This seemingly innocuous switch, however, had an unexpected consequence.
Zach’s usual viewership ranged from 300 to 800.
However, the stream featuring the white avatar exploded, tripling his average to a staggering 22,000 viewers, as captured in a viral Twitter post.
This stark difference in viewership has sparked discussion about the potential biases present in online spaces.
While some attribute the increase to novelty or simply preferring the avatar’s aesthetics, others suspect it reflects a deeper issue of racial bias within the Twitch community.
The incident raises questions about the role of representation and visibility for Black creators.
While Zach’s experience is anecdotal, it highlights the potential challenges faced by streamers of color in a platform often dominated by white voices.
It’s important to note that the reasons behind Zach’s viewership increase are complex and multifaceted.
Further analysis and open discussions are needed to understand the underlying factors and address any potential biases within the platform.
Zach himself has remained relatively quiet on the issue, focusing on continuing to create content for his growing audience.
However, his experience serves as a stark reminder of the challenges and complexities faced by Black creators in the online world.
