David Morey 
Five years ago, the folks at Morning Consult interviewed 2000 millennials and Gen Z-ers to get their opinions on influencers. Half of them said they would love to become future influencers.
In 2024, young people don’t just dream about becoming influencers. They’re constantly trying to become famous through live streaming. They stream funny videos on TikTok. They post inspirational videos on YouTube and dance on Instagram Live.
Why is streaming everyone’s go-to pathway for becoming famous? First, 80% of social media users prefer video to any other form of content. Against that backdrop, below are some of the reasons live streaming keeps growing:
Easy Path to Fame
Live streaming content gives you publicity in front of millions of people. This is especially true if you can create viral content—videos that spread across the Internet rapidly.
Twitch TV, the famous Amazon-owned streaming platform popularized by video gamers, started the entire live streaming culture. After Twitch came out, it encouraged talented players to display their content through live streams.
Within a few years, talented gamers had accumulated hundreds of thousands of fans who would watch their content regularly. Take Tyler “Ninja” Blevins. He began his video game content creation journey in the early days of Twitch.
Now, Ninja has over 18 million followers on Twitch. He has 24 million followers on YouTube and more than 10 Million fans across his social media channels. Ninja is the epitome of fame generated through live streaming.
According to the 32-year-old, streaming doesn’t always lead to quick fame. He says he had to stream content for hours daily to attract the attention of gaming fans. As such, using streaming to gain fame requires tremendous hard work and patience.
Great Way to Make Money
We’ll be honest. Most streamers on social media don’t make money from their fame, even when they have millions of fans. The explanation is that social networks like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram don’t share their ad revenues with content creators.
You can initiate a live stream that attracts 100,000 viewers on TikTok, and the social media company won’t pay you. However, your fame on social media can attract brands willing to pay you for endorsements.
Many social media influencers make the majority of their money from brand endorsements and affiliate marketing. Depending on your audience and level of influence, you can attract companies willing to pay you thousands of dollars for every post.
Others sign you up for their affiliate marketing programs. When you market a brand’s products, and your fans make a purchase, you are paid. Another way to make money as an influencer is by selling merchandise. Or you can use your influence to make money through blogging or YouTube.
Livestreaming is Free
Live streaming doesn’t cost a thing on most social media platforms. All you need is an account and a smartphone with fast Internet. TikTok makes it extremely easy to start a live stream.
It also features an algorithm that can attract you thousands of viewers within minutes. This is why it’s one of the most preferred networks for live streaming. Unfortunately, its popularity with video content sometimes leads to an oversaturation of live streams.
If you would like to achieve success as a streamer, you need to niche out and create unique content. Let’s say you love online gaming. But everyone you know streams CS: GO, League of Legends, and Fortnite content.
Niche out to a popular game with fewer streamers on Twitch. Better yet, target the online casino gaming community. You could review slots and video poker sites, such as those recommended by casinos.us. Or you could share blackjack and roulette tips with interested casino fans.
Once you accumulate a large following on Twitch, YouTube, and other platforms, you can monetize your content. Twitch supports subscriptions and affiliate marketing. YouTube is great for adverts, while you could make money through brand endorsements on social media.
Let’s face it. Everyone who posts content on social media yearns for engagement. You want your friends’ attention, likes, and comments after you post your vacation posts.
Live streaming is a better way to get people’s attention on social media. Think about it. While live, your friends and fans can see and listen to you. Because streaming feels like a personal conversation, they’re more likely to react to your content.
If you have a talent you want to promote on social media, live streaming can elevate your path to stardom. Let’s say you’re a comedian. An hour of hilarious content on Instagram or TikTok Live could double or tenfold your social media following.
If done weekly, live streaming could help you build a solid brand. Think of Matt Rife. He grew his brand on social media before earning a Netflix special.
The rise of live streaming can be tied to social media growth. Before TikTok and Instagram Live, only Twitch fans seemed to care about streamers. Now, most streamers seek fame through Instagram, Twitch, Facebook and TikTok.
Fortunately, social media platforms offer the numbers needed to support live streaming. Facebook has over two billion customers. Instagram has 1.4 billion fans, while Twitter (X) and TikTok combine for another billion users.
Streaming wouldn’t be growing if social media remained stagnant. The growth of TikTok, Instagram, and even Threads gives people reasons to try their luck at becoming influencers.
The reason social media has become so popular is all thanks to an increase in the number of smartphone users. More than three billion people own smartphones. At least half of them use social media regularly.
Low Bar for Entry
When you think about it, you don’t need any skills or talents to stream content on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube. Anyone can become a streamer online. As we mentioned earlier, all you need is an Internet-streaming device.
You don’t even need to say anything on your live streams. You could set up a live stream while doing chores, sleeping, or reading. If you get viewers, you’ll have achieved your goal.
Of course, you need real content to grow your viewership as a streamer. Create entertaining, informative, or inspirational content to succeed.
