Twitchstreaming is an incredibly unique form of entertainment, as streamers are able to interact with a worldwide audience in real-time. The live nature of streaming is one of the reasons why it’s so appealing, and why so many find watching Twitch streams to be an entertaining way to pass the time.Twitch has helped create a new kind of celebrity, launching numerous streamers to multimillionaire status and making them recognized enough to branch out into other forms of entertainment. But while Twitch streaming is an increasingly popular and lucrative venture, there are also some serious dangers associated with it.
Since the rise of Twitch streaming, “swatting” has become a way for people to “prank” Twitch streamers. Swatting, for the uninitiated, essentially amounts to people lying to police to convince them to show up at a streamer’s house with a SWAT team.Swatting has had fatal consequences in the past, and some of those that have been caught have been hit with prison sentences for their role in the incidents.
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Even though there have been multiple occasions whereswatters have been caught and sent to prison, people continue to put streamers' lives at risk by swatting them. One of the more recent swatting incidents on Twitch involved streamer PixelKitten, who was hosting a charity stream at the time. Before the actual swatting incident occurred, the swatter allegedly had unpaid pizzas from Dominos and Pizza Hut repeatedly sent to PixelKitten’s house, which she believes was a “bizarre taunt” meant to scare them and their family.
The swatter then contacted police and claimed that there was an armed shooter at PixelKitten’s house who had already shot his girlfriend and was going to kill himself. PixelKitten said that “more than half a dozen squad cars” showed up, along with a SWAT team with “full gear and guns drawn.“Click hereto see a Twitch clip of the incident, but please note that some strong language is used. In the Twitch clip, PixelKitten is made aware of the swatting incident, so they get their dog to safety before addressing their viewers, calling out whoever swatted them.
Luckily, no one was hurt in the incident. The police were apparently aware of what swatting was and were “calm and understanding,” according to aTikTok video posted by PixelKitten. In the sameTikTokvideo, PixelKitten indicated that she is going to press charges against whoever is responsible for putting the lives of their family and dog in danger.
Despite the swatting incident, PixelKitten still managed to raise over $3,000 for PAVE (Promoting Awareness/Victim Empowerment) during theTwitchstream. PAVE is a charity that is dedicated to “creating a world free from sexual violence and building communities to support survivors.”
