How Ninja is Changing the Gaming Community | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics

How Ninja is Changing the Gaming Community

The face of Twitch is utilizing his popularity to shine a spotlight on like-minded creators to change how people view gamers and the gaming community.

125
Tyler "Ninja" Blevins
CNBC News

For those of my readers that have no idea what I am talking about, continue on reading. For those that already know, you can skip this paragraph. Anyway, Twitch is a popular website that hosts live-streamed video, owned by Amazon. Think of it like YouTube, but with live videos instead of pre-recorded ones. Viewers can follow streamers for free as well as subscribing for a monthly fee. Subbing to a channel unlocks better privileges and exclusive emotes for the chat. Ninja is currently the number one most followed and subscribed streamer on the platform by a wide margin. He had amassed a healthy community with his goofy, energetic personality and insane skills in the game he streams, Fortnite.

Since Ninja has become popular in the last year, he has had an increasing number of younger fans coming to meet him at conventions. Because of this, Ninja realized he has a duty to dial back the obscenities in some of his content. In an interview as part of the H3H3 podcast, he described it as such,

"My goal is to make it like your classic Spongebob Squarepants, where like, the parents at home can get a dirty joke or something like that, but the kids are completely oblivious... In my opinion, man, the cursing thing is like, of course little kids shouldn't be running around dropping F-bombs or swearing at all at that age. And simply just because, you don't understand the meaning behind it."

Some fans were not happy about this, saying he was selling out or simply making a money move. His manager/wife later commented on Twitter,

To everyone mad at @Ninja for not swearing much anymore-The majority of fans he has come up to him while we are out are 7-13 y/o boys and girls whose parents say "wish I could let them watch with sound" Tyler feels a moral obligation to tone it down for the younger ears.
-Jessica @JGhosty

I think this move is a very responsible move on his part. However, this is not all that Ninja has been doing recently. I think the main thing Ninja has been doing to improve the community is using his popularity to shine the spotlight on other creators. This is not only a humble move to help others grow, but one that he is doing to support good content. The people that he has helped to grow are a really good, diverse set of people.

Ninja has also displayed countless moments of compassion the likes of which I have not seen in internet stars such as himself. He has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for a variety of charities like the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and St Jude's. He is aware of the power a streamer can have in the shaping of the audiences he draws and looks to improve how the community as a whole behaves by setting good examples. I am hopeful for his future.


I am not making the case that Ninja is a saint - he has lost his temper a fair amount of times and is as fallible as the rest of us. He has even recently made friends with Keemstar and Faze Banks, both of whom have had considerable backgrounds involving shameful activities. All of that being said, his focus on morals and setting positive examples keep him at the forefront of Twitch, and I can't think of a better person to do it.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

198097
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

19575
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

461428
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

28611
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments