Livestreaming Technologies and Practices

Livestreaming Technologies and Practices

Keynote: TL Taylor, Professor of Comparative Media Studies, MIT 

Funded in part through Concordia University’s Aid to Research Related Events, Publication, Exhibition and Dissemination Activities (ARRE) Fund 

This one-day symposium on October 10, 2018, at Concordia’s Milieux Institute and in conjunction with the Association of Internet Researchers (AoIR) annual conference, brought together game studies scholars and social media researchers to discuss the increasing popularity of live digital technologies. These technologies include features on social media sites such as Facebook Live, standalone smartphone apps (e.g., Periscope), and websites dedicated to live streaming, such as the gaming platform Twitch.tv. 

 Although live streaming has been possible for many years (e.g. Senft, 2008), the evolution of recording devices, data transfer speeds, mobile apps, and other digital technologies has contributed to a recent proliferation of live media. Live platforms encourage spontaneous sharing but controversial incidents raise questions about what should be shared in a live context. Live streaming game platforms showcase modes of self-presentation and self-promotion (Consalvo & Altizer, 2017), which social media influencers also adopt when broadcasting content to adoring fans (Abidin, 2016). Gamers and influencers alike benefit from the commercialization of these practices, generating revenue from brand promotion and boosting attention to advertisements. Clearly, live streaming and live digital technologies have social, political, economic, and cultural impacts. However, research into these areas is still developing and there have been few opportunities for interdisciplinary dialogue among scholars researching live streaming. 

Leading researchers in these fields presented their latest findings and brainstormed about future directions for investigating livestreaming technologies and practices. We showcase highlights from the symposium below in order to continue this dialogue.