🔴 Should TikTok Allow AFK Streams?

Plus the best way to record and livestream vertical content

Author

Harry Blanchflower
April 03, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes

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Issue #45

Hey, it’s Harry.

Welcome back to another week of the streaming and content journey.

This week we’re debating a commonly discussed TikTok LIVE topic. Plus I’ve got the best tool for vertical recording and streaming and Discord has “accidentally” viewbotted a YouTube video to over 1.4B views in under 24 hours!

📰 In Today’s Edition

  • 💤 AFK livestream debate

  • 📱 The best tool for recording and streaming vertical content

  • 📈 Are you using this method to grow?

  • 🟣 Yet more rule updates from Twitch

😴 Let’s Talk About AFK TikTok Streams

The recent temporary removal of compatibility mode from LIVE Studio was largely attributed to a lack of moderation from TikTok. What were they failing to moderate? Mostly AFK livestreams (with some copyright violation thrown in too).

What’s this all about?

There are a few common types of automated streams on TikTok LIVE.

Territory War from KeepMyLive is a common example. It’s an automated minigame where viewers can type or send gifts to interact. AFK plugins for single-player games like Minecraft are also common. As is something like TikFinity’s keystrokes plugin.

Simply put, the streamer can gain followers, likes and even gifts despite not even being at their computer.

What are the rules?

The problem for people doing this type of livestream is they usually break the rules. You can find these rules buried deep inside the Live Center. Curiously, TikTok doesn’t place them in the community guidelines.

In general, TikTok wants “mediation from the creators”. Without that, their AI detects you are AFK and applies a restriction or even ban to the livestream.

My thoughts

Remember Jakey Boehm’s sleep streams? They made both him and TikTok five figures per month. Even then, TikTok still restricted him to the point where he simply quit and moved to Kick. AFK content can easily generate TikTok six or seven figures per month in gift revenue.

Twitch solved this problem years ago. They simply created categories that AFK streams were required to be in. If your stream is running 24/7 on Twitch then you simply put it in the Always On category.

So TikTok should do the same. Force AFK livestreams to tag their content as such then don’t restrict content that is correctly tagged. Keep the AI to scan for content that isn’t correctly tagged. Train the algorithm to only show AFK content to people interested.

What’s the counter-argument? A big creator once told me that TikTok is concerned about how AFK livestreams look to brand partners. TikTok should simply tell their brand partners that the viewers have an appetite for this content. The algorithm serves the audience.

What do you think of AFK streams?

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🎬 Weekly Video

Aitum Vertical is the best way to stream and record vertical content from a PC or Mac.

  • Vertical streaming AND multistreaming

  • Vertical recording

  • Clipping stream moments

  • Landscape and vertical canvas inside one client

It remains my favourite OBS plugin and you can use it even if you’re stuck on LIVE Studio. (Free yourself by getting a stream key!)

It’s all covered in my latest video.

📜 Posts Of The Week

Shorts streaming is still so new. Get in early!

Tip: As discussed earlier, Aitum Vertical is fantastic for recording and livestreaming on a portrait canvas from OBS. You can even easily multistream with it.

Much like any hobby or job, you get better through learning. Content creation and livestreaming are not get-rich-quick schemes.

🎯 Bullet Point News

  • Ninja reveals he was diagnosed with Melanoma (skin cancer) but is optimistic as it was caught early. Wishing him all the best with his recovery. ❤️

  • Kick signs top RuneScape streamer B0aty. They have now signed a majority of all major RS streamers to non-exclusive contracts.

  • Twitch announces new Hype Train levels and emote rewards.

  • Twitch also updated its rules regarding “intimate body parts”. Content that focuses on them for a prolonged period of time will not be allowed.

  • Just One Block is an interactive TikTok LIVE Minecraft plugin from TimeCode. Learn about it here.

  • KCIP is Kick’s program that pays an hourly rate to livestream. Many KCIP participants have shared their honest experiences in this thread.

  • Discord accidentally viewbots a YouTube to 1.4 BILLION views in under 24 hours. Dexerto explained it here.

👋 Thanks for reading!

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