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

In This Article:

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

12 Midnight NYE: Fun Ideas!

This isn't just for the single Pringles out there either, folks

14011
Friends celebrating the New Years!
StableDiffusion

When the clock strikes twelve midnight on New Year's Eve, do you ever find yourself lost regarding what to do during that big moment? It's a very important moment. It is the first moment of the New Year, doesn't it seem like you should be doing something grand, something meaningful, something spontaneous? Sure, many decide to spend the moment on the lips of another, but what good is that? Take a look at these other suggestions on how to ring in the New Year that are much more spectacular and exciting than a simple little kiss.

Keep Reading...Show less
piano
Digital Trends

I am very serious about the Christmas season. It's one of my favorite things, and I love it all from gift-giving to baking to the decorations, but I especially love Christmas music. Here are 11 songs you should consider adding to your Christmas playlists.

Keep Reading...Show less
campus
CampusExplorer

New year, new semester, not the same old thing. This semester will be a semester to redeem all the mistakes made in the previous five months.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

Let's face it, last semester you woke up with enough time to brush your teeth and get to class and even then you were about 10 minutes late and rollin' in with some pretty unfortunate bed head. This semester we will set our alarms, wake up with time to get ready, and get to class on time!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Painfully True Stages Of Camping Out At The Library

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

2766
woman reading a book while sitting on black leather 3-seat couch
Photo by Seven Shooter on Unsplash

And so it begins.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

Camping out at the library is not for the faint of heart. You need to go in as a warrior. You usually have brought supplies (laptop, chargers, and textbooks) and sustenance (water, snacks, and blanket/sweatpants) since the battle will be for an undetermined length of time. Perhaps it is one assignment or perhaps it's four. You are motivated and prepared; you don’t doubt the assignment(s) will take time, but you know it couldn’t be that long.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 14 Stages Of The Last Week Of Class

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

1673
black marker on notebook

December... it's full of finals, due dates, Mariah Carey, and the holidays. It's the worst time of the year, but the best because after finals, you get to not think about classes for a month and catch up on all the sleep you lost throughout the semester. But what's worse than finals week is the last week of classes, when all the due dates you've put off can no longer be put off anymore.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments