Twitch has recently implemented a policy aimed at eliminating bots from its platform, a measure that, while positive for many users, has highlighted the magnitude of the inflated audience figures that existed. A report from Stream Charts has revealed that tens of millions of hours of views were misleading, which has generated intense debate among streamers, advertisers, and the community at large.
No more bots on Twitch
Notable streamers like xQc and Rubius have claimed that the removal of these bots has led to a significant drop in their audience numbers, raising doubts about the accuracy of previous popularity metrics. According to Rubius, this could lead advertisers to hesitate in sponsoring streamers, as they may now question the authenticity of the interaction with their content.
The report indicates that more than 40,000 channels have been affected, with around 4,400 showing anomalous activity. It is estimated that in the second quarter of 2025, one in six channels relied on audience manipulation through bots, generating more than 30 million hours of false views. This situation has revealed a dark side of streaming that many would prefer to have kept hidden.
For its part, the Kick platform is facing similar problems, with over 3,000 channels attacked by bots, where one in six viewers identifies as such. Apparently, some streamers have paid up to 20,000 dollars a week for the use of these bots. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Kick has not issued any official response regarding this, which could worsen the crisis of confidence in this emerging platform.