If you have not heard of Kick, the new streaming platform that’s taking the world by storm, chances are, you are living under a rock. With Kick’s surge in popularity, many are making the big switch from Twitch. But how does Kick compare to Twitch? Is it better? Will it stand the test of time?
Reports show that Kick got a head start in popularity after Twitch switched up its terms of use regarding gambling in the fall of 2022. To catch up on the potential of that viewership, Kick allows gambling streams as part of their advertised “no terms of use” campaign and strategy. However, gambling sources deny the utility of this approach.
According to Casino Alpha commentary on gambling operators, casino brands are supposed to keep up a safe and civil approach to gambling, especially guarding minors from their services.
This article will review Kick's potential and some of its most essential features.
How Does Kick Compare with Twitch?
Kick streams were launched in 2022, and even though it is still in the beta stage, it has received enormous support from big streamers thanks to its customer-friendly policies.
From its inception, Kick has set itself up to compete directly with Twitch. One of Twitch's most significant advantages over Kick is that Twitch is a well-established platform with millions of users worldwide.
However, some things that Kick does right have helped it stay ahead of the competition. For instance, Kick offers its users a higher percentage of earnings compared to Twitch and other streaming platforms. It gives users a 95-5 revenue split, while Twitch, on the other hand, offers its users a 50-50 revenue split.
Also, it is easier for new content creators to get a big break on Kick. Why? Twitch has become very saturated with content creators, making it more difficult for new content creators to stand out. Twitch also has an abundance of excessive ads and inconsistent content moderation, which has made Kick way more appealing for content creators.
Regarding the user interface and user experience, there are minimal differences between the two platforms. Both offer the same streaming quality, and Kick’s user interface looks almost identical to Twitch, making switching from Twitch to Kick a seamless experience.
Although all these qualities allow Kick to compete with Twitch, its biggest competitor, Kick’s gambling feature makes it stand out the most. On Kick, users can stream gambling content like online poker, depending on their jurisdiction’s policies. Users are, however, not permitted to gamble with each other. Twitch, on the other hand, has way stricter gambling regulations.
While Kick has many qualities that make it a fantastic streaming platform, it is not without its fair share of controversies which we shall discuss in the following paragraphs.
Kick Streams Controversies
Kick’s most prominent controversy is that it may be a passing craze and would not be sustainable. With many new streaming platforms stepping into the limelight and being shut down barely a few years after their creation, many cannot help but wonder if Kick would share the same fate.
Kick has terrible content moderation, zero ads, and even pays Amazon, which is Twitch’s owner, to use its streaming gear. It is also owned by Stake, a gambling company, which makes folks that detest gambling less open to using Kick. All these are factors that make people wonder if the platform is sustainable.
Kick has also received allegations that include the streaming of pornographic content. And a gamer even allegedly streamed the assault of an unconscious woman. This shows that it is not only easy to stream illegal acts on the platform, but the perpetrators do not get punished and mostly get away with these acts scot-free.
Earlier this year, unpopular streamer Adin Ross streamed pornography to an underage audience and has gone on to stream even more inflammatory content thanks to Kick’s poor content moderation.
Kick’s Potential
Although Kick is a new platform, it has gotten many new users. One thing that draws new users to the platform is its looser regulations and policies than Twitch.
However, a few things may keep Kick from becoming the number-one streaming platform. This includes its poor content moderation and gambling background. Not to mention its shady background and investors.
Whether Kick would overtake Twitch is quite uncertain and up for debate.