Twitch viewership drops 24% after crackdown on viewbots

Twitch viewership falls 24% after new viewbot crackdown, exposing inflated numbers for major streamers.

Twitch has reported a significant decline in viewership following its recent crackdown on viewbots, automated tools used to inflate live audience numbers.

Data shows a 24% drop in viewership between August 21 and August 24, marking one of the most dramatic reductions in the platform’s history.

The livestreaming site, which had already seen fluctuating audience numbers, experienced a steep and sustained decline after the enforcement measures took effect. At its lowest point on August 22, Twitch viewership was down 24% compared to the previous week, with August 24 showing a 23% decrease. Analysts suggest the drop is a direct result of the removal of non-human traffic from the platform.

High-profile streamers, including Asmongold, have seen their audiences decline by 20-30% in the same timeframe. While some spikes were attributed to major events such as Gamescom’s Opening Night Live, the general trend reflects the platform’s overall downward curve. Other creators, such as Tectone, noted unusual fluctuations as bots continued targeting their channels, with view counts jumping from 3,000 to 7,000 before rapidly dropping.

Industry observers point out that while the crackdown confirms many accounts were artificially inflated, the presence of viewbots does not always indicate that streamers were responsible for purchasing them. Bots can be deployed by third parties to manipulate statistics, making it difficult to assign blame.

Twitch executives, including CEO Dan Clancy, have emphasized the company’s commitment to removing fake engagement, with “thousands” of small streamers flagged for suspicious activity. The move highlights the scale of botting on the platform and raises questions about the true size of Twitch’s active audience.