There are bot watchers on Twitch, and this practice is commonly referred to as viewbotting. Viewbotting involves artificially inflating the number of viewers on a Twitch channel by using bots or automated accounts to simulate real viewership. These bot accounts are not actual people watching the stream but rather computer programs or scripts designed to mimic viewer behavior.
Viewbotting is typically done through the use of view bot services. These services allow streamers to purchase a certain number of fake viewers for their channel. The bots will then connect to the stream, increasing the viewer count. Streamers may use viewbotting to make their channel appear more popular or to climb higher in the Twitch directory, hoping to attract genuine viewers and followers.
There are several reasons why people engage in viewbotting on Twitch. Some may view it as a shortcut to success, believing that having a high viewer count will attract more attention and opportunities. Others may use viewbotting to manipulate the Twitch algorithm and increase their chances of being discovered by new viewers. Additionally, some streamers may use viewbotting as a way to compete with or sabotage their rivals by making their streams appear less popular in comparison.
However, it is worth noting that viewbotting is against Twitch’s terms of service and is considered a form of cheating. Twitch actively monitors for viewbotting activities and takes action against channels that engage in this behavior. Penalties can range from temporary suspensions to permanent bans, depending on the severity and frequency of the offense.
From a viewer’s perspective, it can be frustrating to come across channels that employ viewbotting. Genuine viewers may be misled into believing that a channel is popular and engaging, only to realize that the viewers are not real and the engagement is artificial. This can undermine the trust and credibility of the streamer, making it harder for them to build a genuine community of viewers.
While there are bot watchers on Twitch, they are not real viewers but rather artificially generated by viewbotting practices. Twitch actively discourages and penalizes streamers who engage in viewbotting, as it goes against their terms of service. Genuine viewers should be wary of channels that appear to have inflated viewer counts and seek out authentic content creators who prioritize building a real community.