Why Do We Donate to Streamers on Twitch? Discover the Hidden Side of Donations!

Have you ever wondered what drives people to donate money to their favorite streamers on Twitch? A new study reveals that it's not just for fun or to get something in return. According to the research, donations are a way to express identity and autonomy. The researchers surveyed 560 Portuguese Twitch users and found that three main factors influence donations: entertainment, socialization, and information. Among these, socialization has the strongest effect. Therefore, donations are not just a casual gesture, but a way to say, “I am part of this community and I want to contribute.” This study helps us better understand how people interact online and how platforms can improve these experiences.

The study combines the uses and gratifications theory (UGT) with Michel Foucault's concept of the practice of freedom (PF). UGT explains why people seek certain content, while PF explores how donations become an act of autonomy and self-expression. Researchers used a structural equation model to analyze the data and found that socialization has the strongest mediated effect through PF. This means that people donate not just to support the streamer, but also to strengthen their sense of belonging and identity within the community. The research challenges the idea that donations are merely economic transactions, showing instead how they are linked to deeper, more personal motivations.