With the COVID-19 pandemic causing people to stay at home out of a sense of public responsibility, artists are having to cancel shows worldwide. How are live-streaming platforms filling the void, and could digital behaviours during the crisis create long-term changes in how people consume music?

How are video-based platforms fostering closer digital connections? Are there any ways for brands to benefit from call-out culture? What’s got people flocking to niche social networks? And why are both gamers and non-gamers watching Twitch streams?

Twitch has established itself as the leading player in live gaming coverage, but it’s not the only thing drawing people back on a daily basis. As the platform’s content has diversified beyond esports, the interactions between streamers and viewers have made into a hub for community and discussion.

As protests continue to take hold across the US and the world, for some, fears around the continuing spread of COVID-19 are impacting their ability to partake in person. In Russia, people have been turning to navigation apps to engage in and amplify virtual activism while on lockdown.