I used to average around 15 viewers per stream on Twitch. Engaging with my community and seeing my channel grow was an exciting journey, but everything changed when Twitch altered its viewerbot rules. These changes mean that even lurkers—viewers who support our channels by simply keeping them open—no longer count towards our viewership numbers. This has been a huge setback.

Twitch's decision has impacted my channel's growth significantly. Where I once found encouragement from climbing viewer numbers, now I see stagnation. This is not just a personal struggle; many other small streamers like me are facing the same challenge. We rely on every single viewer to help us grow, get noticed, and pursue our passion for streaming.

Lurkers play a crucial role in the Twitch community. They may come for different reasons—some enjoy the background noise while working or studying, others are simply shy but supportive. By changing how viewers are counted, Twitch is inadvertently discouraging this vital part of our community.

We understand the reasoning might be to counter viewerbot manipulation, but the approach has unintended consequences that hurt genuine small streamers trying to make their mark. There must be a more balanced method that distinguishes between true viewer engagement and manipulation without disregarding real support.

In recent studies, it's shown that communities thrive on support and engagement. Twitch should consider the positive impact a generous counting approach has on small streamers' growth which ultimately benefits the entire platform. Additionally, better tools to separate genuine support from bot activity could provide an equitable solution.

We urge Twitch to revert these viewerbot rule changes and seek alternative strategies that won't alienate genuine community members. This change will empower small creators like myself to continue growing and thriving. We ask for your support in signing this petition to help us bring much-needed attention to this issue. Your signature can make a difference!