It was the summer of 2020, and the pandemic had just started.
Everyone, apart from first responders and relevant individuals, could be found indoors with the looming threat of COVID-19 in the outside world. Getting stuck indoors does get boring, and that’s when I remember how game streaming was back then on Facebook.
Back during the pandemic, Facebook game streams weren’t as gambling-centric as they are now.
Imagine, back then you’d find game streams about anything. Not only was it interesting and varied, but it was also profitable! Sure, there may have been some hiccups like getting disconnected because your audio had something “official” or copyrighted in it. But at its core, it was a much simpler time.
While a majority of the content back then was a metagame primarily composed of Mobile Legends, Among Us, and even Axie Infinity for a time, there was still variety and soul behind these streams. Yes, there were some provocative streams like Bingo Girl and other content creators with similar branding. But for every provocative streamer, there were multiple motivated and creative streamers doing their own thing.
I remember being personally annoyed with this type of content, but there were so many content creators that were inspirational and entertaining in their own way. Behind these gaming channels were people who just wanted to have a good time. (For my old streamer ref fam Potato Engine, Spicy Oolong Streams, Genpark Snooze, and others—I hope you’re all doing well!)
Before we continue our little rant on Facebook Gaming turning into Facebook Gambling, let’s talk about the conditions that led to what fb.gg currently is.
The pandemic eased up towards the latter half of 2022. With that, more individuals began leaving the confines of their homes and braving the urban wilderness again. For some, this meant leaving their monitors and virtual grasslands to touch actual grass.
Being disconnected from technology or even the internet led to fewer stream viewers. Having fewer viewers for any platform resulted in a decline in ad revenue. As much as I’d like to make this all about fb.gg, this decline in viewership could be noticed across various streaming platforms like Facebook, Twitch, YouTube, and even Netflix to an extent.
Another factor to consider is how everything gradually shifted to prioritizing short-form media over long-term media. The fact that most social media sites like Facebook had stories, or YouTube had shorts, should’ve been a sign. But TikTok was ahead of the competition in that way.
Attention spans got shorter, and grabbing viewers’ attention in the first few seconds became the entertainment metagame. However, that goes into retention issues, which is a topic for another day. Imagine heading into random streams and coming at a bad time. Nobody has the patience to wait for a highlight when all they crave is a highlight reel.
You know what’s full of highlights and must-see moments? A livestream complete with commentary, distractions, and losing all inhibitions to support said livestream. This seems eerily similar to gambling livestreams on Facebook where kids could watch. Is that really the type of content you want little Jepoy to see?
Is it preachy to complain about gambling when gaming is involved? To an extent, yes. But there has to be a clear divide between the types of streams and the content that comes with it. If it’s something that kids should be okay with, like educational content, cartoons, or even age-appropriate anime, sure, leave that out in the open. But gambling and other provocative content should be found elsewhere.
As a creator adapting to the current live streaming meta, whether you want to get into streaming or were previously a livestreamer, what options do you have at your disposal? Gone are the days when viewers would come in droves to watch or chance upon your stream. You’ll have to work on it and make the most out of the situation.
If you’re a gamer but don’t want to succumb to the temptation of streaming casino games, highly consider a different platform like Twitch for all sorts of games, YouTube for visibility, or TikTok to take advantage of their short-form content. A content creator friend of mine, Dandeecatt, started on FB Gaming, transitioned to Twitch, and eventually found herself as a full-time content creator across multiple platforms. While it took a while, you just need to have a plan.
If you’re talented at a game, consider streaming where talent scouts may lurk, and network accordingly. Who knows, you might be the next Kuku or Faker, join Oasis Gaming, or even go international.
Just because gambling content—whether on your monitor or a billboard—became a common sight doesn’t mean it’s the only content available. While times may be different now and game streaming is less lucrative, gamers live on and adapt. It’s not the end; it’s the sequel. Sometimes that sequel just gets ported to mobile.
Gamers don’t die, they respawn.
