The number of viewers you get is one way to measure your success on Twitch. You’ll need 75 on average to become a Partner and 500 to earn money. It seems easy to attract an audience, especially since Twitch revenue and usage statistics for 2023 show that the platform had 2.58 million concurrent viewers in 2022.
Yet just because many viewers are available, it doesn’t mean many of them will watch you. You must attract them first by streaming content they like and interacting with them. Also, you must avoid content they may not want to see—like smoking. Smoking was once a habit considered fashionable, something that might have led to an increase in someone's popularity. In 2023, that is not the case, and smoking on a stream could be hugely detrimental to your popularity. With that in mind, you should consider alternatives. If you're a smoker who wants to stream successfully but is prone to cravings, then help is at hand. You may want to instead consider using nicotine replacement therapy products (NRTs) on your streams.
Here’s why:
Why Should You Use NRTs Instead of Smoking During Streams?
Although Twitch doesn’t directly ban smoking, its terms state how laws in your area apply to your streams. For instance, landlords in California have the right to restrict or completely ban smoking in their rental properties. Thus, your landlord can file a lawsuit if you break their rules, so streaming from a rental property in that area would be deemed illegal by Twitch. There are other localized rules, such as nonsmoking neighbors who can pursue legal actions against you should your secondhand smoke drift onto their property and affect their health. Again, violating the laws in real life would also violate Twitch's rules.
Apart from legal trouble, smoking when streaming can be uncomfortable to watch for people who don’t engage or like the habit. It can suggest that you’re promoting “bodily self-harm”—something Twitch actively discourages streamers from doing—because smoking is the leading cause of several diseases, like lung cancer. Besides, building a safe and inclusive Twitch community is essential in ensuring your viewers want to stay in your created space. This includes fostering a culture of respect, which can mean being mindful of your viewers' boundaries.
Additionally, The Hill reports that tobacco use on social media can influence non-smokers to start the habit. People who viewed tobacco content were more than two times as likely to use the substance as those who did not. If viewers notice themselves becoming curious about smoking, they may cease supporting you and brand you as a “bad influence.”
This is why you should consider using NRTs while you stream. These are smoke- and tobacco-free, so viewers can't tell you’re using them at all. Here are a couple of options that may best suit your streaming activities:
NRTs You Can Use On Streams
Nicotine pouches
Nicotine pouches are temporarily tucked between the lip and gum. These are small enough to be unnoticeable, so you can continue speaking when using one. You may want to start with the ones from ZYN, the most popular pouch brand in the US. They're particularly notable for being completely white—so you won't get teeth stains like you would with tobacco.
If you stream for extended periods, though, use them in moderation. A blog post by Prilla outlines the side effects of ZYN pouches which can include a sore mouth and an upset stomach. You can prevent mouth soreness by moving your pouch around occasionally. High doses of nicotine (like 8mg) or a strong flavor (like peppermint) can also upset your stomach, so try sticking to pouches with lower doses and milder flavors.
Nicotine patches
Nicotine patches stick to the skin for nicotine absorption. They’re convenient to use since you can hide them under your clothes or out of your camera’s view if you want to be discreet. If you buy them from Habitrol, they'll even last for up to 24 hours, so you don’t need to disrupt your stream to replace them.
Despite this, Habitrol patches have side effects you need to know about, too. If you have sensitive skin or the patch stays on for too long, you may experience skin irritation—so remove the patch immediately and consult a doctor. You can also get dizzy if you use a dose your body can’t process immediately (like 21mg). Dizziness isn't ideal while streaming, so switch to a lower dose and observe how you feel before using patches again.
To attract more viewers, make sure your Twitch streams are smoke-free. In the meantime, you can try NRTs like pouches and patches—just remember to use them in moderation for a smooth-sailing streaming experience.