What is Perceived Interconnectedness

Toxicity—aggressive, discriminatory, or hostile behavior that impacts a group or community—is a significant issue on the livestreaming platform Twitch, where a single toxic utterance can disrupt the dynamic between a streamer and their fans. This chapter examines the ways in which a female Twitch streamer combats issues of toxicity by creating and supporting a fan community that is heavily invested in her and therefore endeavors to conform to the norms and regulations of her community. Through the analysis of a single two-hour stream, this chapter considers the ways in which a streamer can balance the appearance of a close relationship with her community with a high level of moderation and regulation to resist toxic behavior and thus ensure her and her fan community's well-being and happiness.