“Viewers have enjoyed their ability to cause the suffering of others”

What is the profile of the Australian Kick platform subscribers?

“Launched in 2022, the Kick platform has imposed itself with a well -marked identity, distinguishing itself from its main competitor, Twitch. For example, By adopting a much more libertarian approach to live streamingwith significantly relaxed moderation rules. Moreover, the platform attracted a fringe of videographers broadcasting hate speech. Nevertheless, Conversely, Twitch applies strict moderation rules, notably aimed at protecting women from harassment in cats, as well as LGBT communities. Moreover, Kick’s public is also distinguished: younger. Therefore, less graduated, more male and politically oriented to the right, even to the far right, compared to that of Twitch. Nevertheless, »»

How to explain that some revel in violent content?

«The live streaming Constitutes a very powerful tool for producing engaging spectacle and building online communities. Therefore, On Kick, this staging was put at the service “viewers have enjoyed their ability of ritualized virilist and validist violence. Consequently, THE viewers [téléspectateurs. Similarly, NDLR] have taken pleasure in the fact of being able, via their gifts, to act “Narutovia” and “Safine” from a distance – which exercised violence against “Jean Pormanove” in their name. In addition, They enjoyed their ability to cause the suffering of others at a distance. »»

“It is not the technologies in themselves that produce these behaviors. but the use that is made of them” – "viewers have enjoyed their ability

Does this reflect a trivialization of violence on social networks?

“Social networks actually have the power to make certain violent images viral. contributing to their trivialization as a show with a segment of youth. But it is important to remember that all viewers are not fans of violent content. It is not the technologies in themselves that produce these behaviors, but the use made of them. »»

Does this form of voyeurism have something “viewers have enjoyed their ability new?

“Forms of ritualized and public violence have always existed. One can think, for example, of the spectacular executions of the Middle Ages. They served to establish the domination of a group. to punish any deviance in relation to its standards and to reaffirm the social order. Today, this same mechanism for staging violence is reflected in contemporary forms via social networks. »»

“It is crucial to prevent this event from leading to moral panic”

Can some spectators not be. fully aware of the severity of the content they look at?

” Yes. Placed in other contexts – at school or family – these young people often appear completely “normal”. It is participation in a collective show, viewed by thousands of people, which promotes the trivialization of violence. Some spectators have even resumed the justifications put forward by “Narutovie”. “Safine”, saying that it was a game between consenting people – a “viewers have enjoyed their ability way of dodging their own responsibility. »»

Will this drama generate an awareness of the excesses on these platforms?

” Probably. But it is crucial to prevent this event from leaving moral panic or a social disqualification of all streamers. It is true that certain platforms broadcast extremely violent content. but many others also constitute essential spaces of sociability for young people. »»

Faced with the exposure of minors to violent or inappropriate content, what role can parents and teachers play in prevention?

“They must be interested in what is happening on these platforms. talking to young people because they want to understand what they consume. In particular. they must ensure that a youngster does not lock himself in a single community and if necessary, offer him other types of content. »»