Taking a cue from TikTok, Twitch is officially rolling out a new discovery feed for all users this week.
The streaming company announced on Tuesday (April 30) that the feature is “finally here.” The launch highlights yet another platform that has adopted short-form content, making TikTok reach enormous heights and popularity.
Companies like Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, LinkedIn and even UberEats have integrated some sort of short-form video feed into their platforms, with Twitch now the latest to join the list.
In a blog post on the company’s website, they describe the feature as a “scrollable feed in the Twitch mobile app that shows users a personalized mix of clips and live streams to help viewers quickly find content to enjoy.” , and even help streamers get discovered when they’re not live.”
The Discovery Feed is finally here: the fastest way to find content you like on Twitch. Watch dozens of live streams and clips without pre-roll ads to find something to watch in minutes.
Update your Twitch mobile app to see the new Feed tab, now available to everyone… pic.twitter.com/bI704lgYAB
– Twitch (@Twitch) April 30, 2024
The Discovery feed is available in the Feed tab of the Twitch mobile app. However, developers say the location could shift as they continue to experiment with changes.
For streamers looking to take advantage of the new feature, note that you won’t be able to upload content directly, as all live streams and clips can be viewed automatically if they meet the content guidelines.
How does the Twitch feed work?
The content of the discovery feed is tailored to what users already like to see and new communities that the algorithm thinks people will like.
The feed contains two tabs – a live feed and a clip feed. Just like TikTok, users can scroll vertically in the feed through preroll-free previews of live streams. When a stream catches your eye, simply click on the person’s avatar to switch to theater mode and join the live stream.
Viewers can vote using the thumbs up and thumbs down buttons to tell Twitch what content they like and what they would like to see more or less of in their personal feed.
The company says: “This data is not shared with the streamer or other viewers and only impacts the viewer’s individual feed experience. We may continue to experiment with these feedback signals over time.”
Featured Image: Photo by Caspar Camille Rubin on Unsplash