Recently, an online network called Twitch (http://www.twitch.tv/) was bought by Amazon for $1.1 billion. What is twitch and why is it worth this much money? It is a site where you can watch competitive online games, or Esports, and people everywhere are tuning into this popular gaming outlet. The professional gamers on the site get prize money that can total up to millions of dollars and Twitch has upwards of 55 million followers worldwide a month. Because of the astounding fan base, and its promising outlook, Amazon decided that the investment was too good to pass up.
While watching the game being played, viewers are also able to listen to, and watch, the gamers who are playing. Many describe it as a great way to pick up tips on how to become better gamers themselves and some spend 20 hours per week or more on Twitch. It is one of the 15 most trafficked websites in the world and users watch more than 16 billion minutes of videos each month. Twitch is now even rivaling top cable networks during peak hours and the site’s owners predict its use will keep continuing to grow, surpassing even more popular networks.
Could this site grow to the point where it will move from its web home to actual television? At this point, it seems possible, but in our society many would rather have access to this through their computers or other electronic devices. Our culture revolves around the use of these devices and it is usually much easier to access them than a TV. One important problem to keep in mind with this site, however, is its usage. Too many people are spending excessive amounts of time on sites like Twitch or social media outlets. This usage is harming the social skills of younger generations, and without these basic fundamentals children will have problems with every day activities and even finding jobs in the future. Therefore, it is crucial to keep encouraging children to have face-to-face relationships rather than virtual ones.
Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/26/technology/amazon-nears-a-deal-for-twitch.html?_r=1