One of the main advantages that streaming has over other forms of entertainment is that it does create a sort of relationship between the streamer and the viewer. Generally the viewer knows that the streamer isn’t really his friend, but the viewer does feel a sort of human connection to the streamer which relies on the assumption that the streamer is being authentic.

I’ll be frank: if I watch streamer content, it’s because I’m feeling lonely and watching it is a little like hanging out with a friend. Obviously it’s not the same because it’s almost entirely a one-way interaction and I know that the streamer is deliberately creating entertainment as opposed to doing what he’s doing purely for its own sake, but I would be disappointed if I discovered that a streamer’s whole identity was made up.