Both TikTok and Twitch have similarity and difference between them. Becoming a TikTok creator and Twitch streamers are many young people’s dreams. Of course, if you want to have success in your dream, you need to focus on one thing instead of branching your interest on multiple social media
In this article, we explain the difference between Twitch and TikTok and make the comparison based on multiple factors to determine which video social media are the best to focus on.
TikTok
TikTok is the trendiest social media for current young people. It was launched in 2017, and since then it has become one of the most used apps in both Android and iOS.
TikTok is a video app that lets users to create, edit, share and watch videos by other TikTok creators. The inbuilt video editing features make TikTok users create their own video without using other apps
Unlike other social media which aim for both desktop and mobile users, TikTok only aims selectively to mobile users. While you can still access TikTok using a web browser, TikTok was developed as a Social Media App at its core, not a social media website like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter
TikTok despite a newcomer on social media apps already attains huge success due to its viral nature that attracts teenagers and youth to use their apps. According to CNBC, in 2020 alone, almost 100 million people in the USA use this app daily
TikTok has more than 1 Billion total users globally according to Business of Apps, with almost 20% global population at productive age (16-64) use TikTok according to GlobalWebIndex. TikTok continues to gain a large market share in the social media market not just among young people, but also mature users around the world.
What Makes TikTok become a popular Social Media
TikTok popularity can’t be separated from the Gen Z generation. TikTok attracts young people most with its feature that let teenager and adolescent express themselves using a combination of great video and catchy music. It lets young people express themselves to others at similar ages.
For the reason that TikTok is an app social media, it means as long you have a smartphone, it’s easy to create a TikTok account without any restriction that can harm your privacy which common in other social media like Facebook. In a nutshell, you can use TikTok right away as long as you have a smartphone and access to the internet
Twitch
Twitch is a live streaming platform that focuses on gaming and non-gaming community. Unlike other social media, Twitch is built around the live streaming of video games. Even though Twitch started to include real sport on their platform, it’s undeniable that most people use Twitch to watch streamers play video games.
Although Twitch has a huge gamer user base, it’s not always possible that a gamer becomes popular just because he or she can play the game so well live on Twitch. Many popular streamers are casual gamers, not professional gamers. This proves that anyone can succeed on Twitch
According to Twitch Tracker, there are 3 million average concurrent viewers on Twitch. Which means
Difference between Twitch and TikTok
Twitch is dominated by Male, meanwhile, TikTok is dominated by Female
According to Global Web Index, 65% of Twitch users are male. Despite female gamers becoming more prevalent and accepted by the gaming community, Twitch is still dominated by male gamers
Unlike Twitch, 58% of TikTok users are female (According to Statika)
The different gender gap between Twitch and TikTok is the result of the different nature of both social media.
As mentioned above, Twitch exist mostly for gaming stream which attracts teenage boys meanwhile TikTok focus more on the creation of video with trendy music which attracts teenager girls
Twitch is a live streaming platform, while TikTok is a video-sharing social network
Twitch and TikTok despite both are social media that use video to connect to others user, they have different on how the video is consumed
Twitch is mainly a live streaming platform, so Twitch streamers stream video games. While in Twitch you can still watch saved video if the channel enabled VOD, but most of the time Twitch users only watch live streaming content
TikTok is a video-sharing social network. TikTok creators upload videos mixed with music that express their creativity. So TikTok is more similar to YouTube than Twitch. It’s the best social media if you want to share your creative video with your family or friends using your smartphone
TikTok vs Twitch: Which one better to focus on?
It depends on what content creator you want to be. If you want to stream your hobby, Twitch is the better platform. If you want to showcase your editing skill to create a short video that interesting to watch then TikTok is better for you. Both are equal and you can even become creators in both TikTok and Twitch
Which earn more: Twitch Streamer or TikTok creator?
It’s easier for Twitch streamers to earn money than TikTok creators. Because Twitch is owned by Amazon, they get better integration on advertisement than TikTok.
Twitch streamers can earn money from ads, subscriptions, bits, and sponsors. If you managed to become Twitch Partner, you can get an exclusive contract from Twitch
The benefit is not just money, but also connection. You can get an exclusive sponsor from gaming company like Razer and Logitech or even non-gaming company like Red Bull (Red Bull sponsor many e-sport teams like OG on Dota 2 and T1 on LOL)
Meanwhile, TikTok creators can only earn from ads and sponsor only
But if you managed to become the TikTok star, then you can probably earn millions from the sponsor and TikTok ads
Because it’s easier to become viral on TikTok, and creating a short video is easier than streaming, there is higher potential to earn money on TikTok more than on Twitch
So, it depends on which platform you can maximize your skill most
If you have a good gaming PC, know the knowledge for streaming and good communication skill then becoming a Twitch streamer is better because you can earn more if you can succeed on Twitch
But if you only have a smartphone but you have good video editing skills and endless creativity then TikTok is better because if you can go viral and maintain your viewers, you can get a living wage from TikTok
Which are more popular: TikTok or Twitch?
Twitch is more popular than TikTok if you don’t account for TikTok users in China. Because TikTok doesn’t reveal their user data, it’s hard to measure which social media are more popular between TikTok and Twitch. But if we use hours watched data, more hours watched on TikTok than Twitch, so TikTok are more popular than Twitch
According to Dot Esports, 18.41 billion hours are watched on Twitch in 2020. This number is lower compared to only Android TikTok users in 2019 which is 68 Billion hours watched according to App Annie.
This proves that at least TikTok is more used than Twitch
Which will be more popular in the future: TikTok or Twitch?
If you want a slightly biased answer, honestly TikTok is better if you aim for the long run
Why?
Because attention span keeps getting shorter thanks to the Internet. Many people get bored when they watch streams because it takes a long time for something to happen
Compared to a short video platform like TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube where you can jump to the interesting part
Even though there is a meme on the whole internet, especially Reddit that “We Must Hate TikTok”, TikTok creators are actually are more accepted than Twitch streamer
Because YouTube already prepares YouTubers as a creative job, many parents accept the possibility of being successful TikTok creators. Because if you want to make a short video on social media and share it with your family or friends, TikTok is way better than Twitch.
Most Twitch streamers are gaming streamers, and many people still don’t accept video game streamers as a job compared to TikTok creators.
Conclusion
TikTok and Twitch even though look similar are massively different. TikTok is more popular on Gen Z, especially among teenage girls because it’s a social media app that lets the user to edit, create and share a video with regional and global Twitch users. Meanwhile, Twitch is aimed for gamer and hobbyist, and have a bit market share on millennial and Gen Z boys.
Both platforms have pros and cons. Both let their user to earn money by becoming their creators. For me, both are equal and you can choose based on your preference
If you’re a gamer then go to Twitch
If you’re not a gamer and you have no PC to stream for then go to TikTok