Why female Twitch streamers are more at-risk for stalking

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In March 2025, there was a significant increase in hostile actions towards female livestreamers by their male audience members.

On March 2nd, for example, live streamers Cinna, Emiru, and Valkyrae were streaming from the Santa Monica Pier in California. At this time, a male viewer requested Emiru’s cell phone number.

In a noticeably awkward response to the man’s demand, Emiru playfully remarked, “I don’t have a cellphone,” and the gathering continued – however, mere minutes passed before this same individual advanced menacingly towards the females, brandishing a threat to take their lives.

On the very same evening, a band of masked individuals forcibly entered the residence of well-known streamer Amouranth. It is said that they violently attacked her with a gun and demanded that she guide them to her reportedly massive $20 million cryptocurrency account.

1. Here’s the complete video recording of the burglary incident.

2. I wish there were doubts about the authenticity of my traumatic experience. Regrettably, some people continue to question its veracity – I can only hope that it had been a hoax or a joke instead.

3. Unfortunately, it wasn’t fabricated.

4. The memories of that dreadful night still haunt me in my dreams. I was petrified then… and even now, recalling the events brings back the fear.

β€” Amouranth (@Amouranth) March 21, 2025

Towards the end of that month, Emiru encountered another uncomfortable incident involving a male follower who approached her at a restaurant while she was livestreaming with content creator ExtraEmily.

In the video recording from that live broadcast, you’ll find Emiru speaking firmly to the viewer, expressing her frustration by stating that she “can no longer continue” and urging him to depart.

On March 13, Fortnite streamer ‘Chica’ posted a video taken by her doorbell camera, which captured hammer-wielding burglars breaking into her house. Although they exited her home with keys for several high-end vehicles, the built-in anti-theft systems on the cars prevented them from starting.

This morning, an intrusion occurred at my home. I’ll share more videos on TikTok, hoping someone might recognize the perpetrators.

An uninvited incident happened at my residence this morning. I plan to upload supplementary clips on TikTok, in case someone can help identify the offenders.

β€” Chica (@ChicaLive) March 14, 2025

Nevertheless, the most distressing incident among them occurred to a live streamer called Airi Sato, a resident of Japan who streams for WhoWatch, when she was repeatedly stabbed by an elderly man as she broadcasted live in Shinjuku on March 11.

42-year-old Kenichi Takano asserted to authorities that Yuki Sato allegedly owed him around 2 million yen ($13,500). He stated that due to her refusal to return his money, he had decided to confront her violently.

Female streamers found themselves petrified to venture outdoors due to concerns about being assaulted by viewers who had contributed financially or subscribed to their content. However, instances such as those involving Amouranth and Chica demonstrate that these women’s safety is often compromised not only outside but also within their own homes.

These repeated occurrences briefly ignited a wave of concern online, but they are not new instances of stalking and violent acts against female influencers. In fact, one of the earliest well-known cases of violence directed towards a content creator happened back in 2016 when the American singer-songwriter Christina Grimmie was shot by a male fan during a meet-and-greet event.

Psychologist explains the minds of online stalkers

For quite some time now, TopMob has encountered many cases where female broadcasters were stalked and harassed by their male audience members. However, the alarmingly high occurrences that took place in March 2025 have sparked curiosity: “What could be the reason behind this?

As a dedicated gamer, I recently connected with the esteemed Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Carla Schuman, to shed light on the concerning surge of stalking incidents against female game content creators. She offered valuable insights into potential causes and possible solutions for this disturbing trend.

Based on Dr. Schuman’s explanation, it appears that female streamers may be more frequently subjected to such behaviors because their online presence on social media provides regular, seemingly unhindered ‘interaction’ opportunities for parasocial viewers with the content creators.

She mentioned that interacting with people through social media gives a sense of closeness that isn’t present when speaking over the phone or meeting someone for a brief moment in person.

On services such as Twitch, it’s surprising how quickly people can gain extensive knowledge about others. However, there’s often a deceptive feeling of closeness, since I’ve observed that users on this platform frequently spend significant amounts of time online, which can create a strong sense of familiarity and comfort towards others.

A female live-streamer based in Japan was fatally stabbed by an online viewer during a street livestream. This tragic event, following the similar circumstances involving Valkyrae and her friends, has made me reconsider the safety aspects of conducting outdoor live streams, even in what appears to be a secure nation.

β€” CelinaπŸŒ™γ‚»γƒͺγƒΌγƒŠ (@tkn0801) March 11, 2025

Streamers frequently spend numerous hours each day, over many days of the week, streaming content – essentially, it’s part of their profession. This extended interaction can lead viewers to develop a ‘parasocial’ bond with these influencers, meaning they may feel like they have a personal relationship with them despite it being one-sided.

From my perspective as a passionate gamer, I’ve come across the term “parasocial relationships” coined by Dr. Adam Borland, a clinical psychologist. Essentially, it’s a one-way connection or bond we form with people we don’t personally know – think of our favorite streamers who are always there for us, interacting live during their broadcasts. It’s fascinating how such digital connections can feel so real, isn’t it?

As a gamer, I’ve noticed that sometimes when streamers engage with their audience in a friendly way, some male viewers might misinterpret it as a sign of romantic interest. This can potentially create awkward situations or confusion for them, so it’s essential to remember that the interaction is primarily about gaming and sharing the experience, not developing personal relationships.

She clarified that while some men might misinterpret friendliness from women as romantic interest, it’s important to note that these women have only been kind and assisted the men with their work or reciprocated in a friendly manner, not expressing any romantic intent. Essentially, kindness is being mistaken for romantic interest.

Why is there more engagement on this platform? I think it’s because users tend to spend a lot of time there. The live streaming videos create a sense of closeness, allowing people to get acquainted quickly and form connections, whether they’re genuine or not.

Frequently, I ponder over the possibility that my stalker may take my life, and sadly, there seems to be little that can be done until such an event actually occurs. It’s a difficult topic to discuss, but if it comes to pass, I hope my death will carry significance and aid in safeguarding other creators from encountering similar dilemmas.

β€” xChocoBars (@xChocoBars) August 24, 2020

On the contrary, Dr. Schumer posits that the frequency of stalking may not have significantly risen because of streaming platforms such as Twitch or popular social media sites like Instagram. Instead, her perspective is that these technologies merely provide a new means for stalkers to harass and intimidate their targets.

She stated, “From my professional perspective, this online platform’s stalking is simply a modern form of stalking. People seem to be spending significantly more time online due to live streaming, which fosters a feeling of camaraderie and closeness. This is particularly noticeable among individuals who may have limited social interaction or feel lonely.

It’s important to note that individuals who harass influencers online may not perceive their actions as harmful because they are communicating digitally rather than face-to-face. However, Dr. Schumer, a clinical psychologist, points out that her professional experience shows that online stalking is frequently underestimated due to this misconception.

Stalkers often develop an obsession with specific individuals, much like in other scenarios, and they may not recognize their actions as harmful because they occur digitally rather than physically. This misconception that ‘I’m not causing harm, it’s just online’ is common among many people. However, it’s essential to understand that aggression can take various forms, and online aggression can be just as frightening for female victims, particularly.

In his recent live broadcast, he made such a statement. Previously, after posting similar messages, he spent the entire day lurking outside my house. Later, he trailed me into a store. When I inquired if he was carrying a weapon, he merely smirked and then pursued me. It took two individuals to restrain him so that I could safely depart.

β€” Sweet Anita (@sweetanita) July 14, 2020

Regarding strategies to prevent online stalking and harassment, Dr. Schumer did not provide specific solutions, but instead recommended methods such as messages, alerts, or instruction to clarify the difference between actual life connections and ‘parasocial’ interactions for people to better understand.

She emphasized that live streaming is essentially an interpersonal communication, and regardless of the medium, individuals remain responsible for their conduct. Therefore, it’s crucial to find means to ensure people recognize this responsibility.

Despite persistent instances of stalking and harassment aimed at various content creators, measures are being implemented to curb these unacceptable behaviors. For example, FBI Director Kash Patel has pledged to intensify efforts against swatting, a potentially lethal prank that has impacted many streamers regardless of their gender for years.

Unluckily, individuals confined within prison can still cause distress to their victims from the inside, as demonstrated in the case of GTA streamer ‘Sodakite.’ She revealed a multitude of emails she received from her stalker, who was incarcerated for murdering his own mother.

Currently, it’s challenging to effectively address stalking due to its prevalence among female streamers sharing their experiences. They have frequently expressed feeling unheard when reporting stalkers to authorities, with UK streamer Sweet Anita poignantly expressing this in a chilling tweet following death threats from a man who pursued her on the street with a knife.

I sincerely wish I’d be the last person to face such perils. It’s long overdue for laws to adapt and ensure no profession exposes individuals to such extreme risks, particularly not those involving sexual assault, violence, or even death – especially in live broadcasts.

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2025-04-18 02:49