Hey, bear in mind how again in 2023, the web briefly went loopy for that one lady who was streaming as an NPC, and performing robotic interactions for donations on TikTok live-streams?
Nicely, for one, she’s nonetheless doing it. But in addition, TikTok’s apparently attempting to encourage extra individuals to attempt it out, possibly not when it comes to particular efficiency, however in encouraging viewer donations on TikTok Reside by performing particular actions on request.
As you may see in this screenshot, posted by app researcher Jonah Manzano, TikTok’s now giving some dwell streamers entry to “Viewer Needs,” which permits them to arrange performative responses that they’ll undertake on streams for particular donations.
So if a viewer sends a rose donation, the streamer on this instance would say hello on stream. You possibly can set as much as six actions that you simply’ll carry out on request, with a spread of further controls to handle such requests on dwell.
You may also select from a spread of templated actions, in the event you’re unsure what to supply in return for particular items.
So it’s just about precisely what NPC streamer PinkyDoll does, performing responsive gestures and actions primarily based on donations despatched to her broadcast.
And it really works for her. At one level, PinkyDoll was producing 1000’s per day by way of her streams, whereas she’s additionally now established model offers to enrich her direct streaming revenue.
So possibly it’s value offering easy prompts for donations, although it does look like it might veer into much less savory areas for some streamers.
I imply, TikTok has guidelines in opposition to body publicity and/or sexualized conduct, however it does permit for some grownup content material, by way of age restrictions. That doesn’t cowl performative materials, however TikTok will let some degree of debate and engagement round grownup subjects go when the content material is locked.
It appears doubtless that this feature will check the bounds of such, as creators search for extra methods to make cash from their streams.