Streams Charts continues its series of articles delving into the livestreaming habits and trends of regions by heading to the Mediterranean Sea. Morocco will be the topic of discussion today, having built a reputation as one of the hottest emerging prospects for content creation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Historically known for being a tourist destination of high demand, the North African country has become renowned for birthing a host of top-tier livestreaming talent over the past few years. These influencers have delved into various genres, including in-real-life (IRL), gaming, vlogging, and esports, with some even transcending their fields and becoming global stars.
This online success means that in 2025, livestreaming has emerged as a powerful and transformative force in the vibrant and dynamic landscape of Morocco's digital sphere. It weaves itself into the fabric of social interaction, entertainment, commerce, education, and even civic engagement.
Crucially, the development and explosion of livestreaming in Morocco has mirrored the nation's broader evolution on the world stage. From the halcyon days of terrestrial television to the early days of dial-up connections and limited internet access, when real-time video interaction was a distant prospect for most, the country has witnessed a remarkable transformation.
Having begun as a nascent form of online communication, the livestreaming industry has blossomed into a medium that connects individuals, creators, businesses, and institutions in real time, transcending geographical boundaries in a sense. Today, it is not merely a technological novelty but a vital artery of the country's internet consumption habits, reflecting and shaping its evolving digital culture.
Television boom brings the world to Moroccan households
The period between independence in 1956 and 2010 was largely characterized by a love for television content. In this regard, Morocco was ahead of its peers in the developing world, thanks largely to its French roots, which meant terrestrial TV reached the nation quicker than in other nations of the same region.
It was the French company, TELMA, that first entered Morocco after seeing a potential audience in its European community. As a result, citizens experienced TV as early as the 1950s, with color channels getting introduced in 1972.
This early exposure to TV made Moroccans a lot more global in terms of their thinking and what they expected to see on their TVs. This extended to news and politics as well, with a majority of users rejecting any government channels or shows that were used as propaganda tools by the ruling establishment.
The likes of 2M, Radio Television Marocaine (RTM), and the National Company of Radio and Television (SNRT, French full form Société Nationale de Radiodiffusion et de Télévision) are some of the most famous names to bring life to television sets.
Initially, 2M was a beacon of light for a country still under the oppressive leadership of II, as it challenged the established order by debating controversial issues, building a reputation for itself as a symbol of freedom of speech in Morocco. It was also known to broadcast a lot of foreign shows, which served as great cultural exposure for Moroccans.
Some foreign movies and TV shows that influenced the citizens' thinking and added a modern approach to their lifestyles were Friends, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Law & Order (all from America), Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke (Hindi-language Indian serial), Larin Izbor (Brazilian primetime telenovela), and Avenida Brasil (Croatian telenovela).
However, with availability only limited to the big cities and its then-revolutionary paid subscriptions model not finding many takers due to the state of the economy, 2M went bankrupt. It was then taken over by the government, which made it another state channel that, according to many historians, openly promoted subliminal self-censorship. This was not something the citizens took to kindly, leading to a rise in demand for videotape rental shops as the public openly distanced themselves from their TV sets.
Inception of limited internet: The dawn of digital content
When it came to internet access, dial-up internet connections were the only option. Unfortunately, they were slow, unreliable, and expensive, making bandwidth-intensive activities like continuous video streaming impractical for most users. Instead, the focus was on basic internet access, text-based communication, and the early stages of sharing static digital content. The seeds of future livestreaming were there, but the environment was not yet conducive to its widespread growth.
As the naughties progressed, ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) technology was introduced, offering significantly faster speeds. However, its availability was initially limited to urban centers, and adoption took time due to cost and infrastructure development. The overall internet penetration rates were also considerably lower compared to later years. Access was often concentrated in businesses, educational institutions, and more affluent households. This limited the potential audience for any form of online video consumption, let alone livestreaming.
The 2010s served as a crucial growth phase, witnessing a significant surge in internet penetration and the dominance of social media giants like Facebook and YouTube. As these platforms integrated live video functionalities, early adopters – individuals sharing personal moments, media outlets experimenting with online broadcasts for news or events, and nascent influencers seeking direct engagement – began to explore the potential of real-time interaction.
Instagram also became an increasingly popular app, especially among a younger demographic whose worldview was broader than that of previous generations. While not initially designed primarily for livestreaming, these platforms started incorporating live video features, paving the way for broader adoption.
The country also witnessed surging mobile internet penetration, the rollout of 3G and later 4G networks making faster internet speeds accessible to a larger portion of the population, particularly through smartphones. While internet access was still a cost factor for some, the increasing competition among telecommunication providers led to more affordable data plans, further driving adoption. By 2016, internet penetration had reached over 57% of the population, a significant jump from around 39% in 2010.
Morocco also saw the early livestreaming use cases beginning to emerge, led by nascent streamer activity. The earliest forms of online influencing began to take shape, with individuals building audiences on platforms like YouTube and later Instagram. Live Q&A sessions or real-time interactions started to appear as a way to engage followers.
All this was only made possible by the ongoing technological advancements, which ensured a proliferation of smartphones, especially among the common folk. The increasing affordability and functionality of mobiles put video recording and consumption capabilities in the hands of more Moroccans, making them potential viewers and creators of live video content.
Growth and diversification (2020s - Present)
The 2020s and the present have marked a significant maturation and diversification of livestreaming in Morocco. Fueled by widespread access to mobile phones and faster internet, the proliferation of user-friendly platforms with robust live video features, and the increasing digital literacy of the population, livestreaming has become a mainstream form of online communication, entertainment, commerce, and information sharing.
In recent years, the number of internet users has increased in Morocco. As of 2025, the internet penetration rate was 92.2%, up from 89.9% in 2022. This indicator expresses the percentage of the total population that uses the internet, ranking Morocco first in Africa.
Here are some numbers from Statista that highlight Morocco's livestreaming growth, especially on social media:
- As of February 2025, nearly 96% of the internet users in Morocco used WhatsApp each month. Facebook and Facebook Messenger ranked as the second and third most popular social media platforms in the country, with a share of 93.5% and 81.5 %, respectively.
- Social media increased every year between 2017 and 2022 before plateauing, with the numbers now stable and reading a healthy 21.3 million in 2025. Sending messages was the primary online activity as of 2023, with consumer review networks and discussion forums becoming the least used platforms.
With a lot more platforms specifically designed for livestreaming, such as Twitch, Trovo, and others, now available, the industry was gaining traction in Morocco. This also meant that a growing number of homegrown content creators emerged, using their content to engage audiences in various niches like gaming, entertainment, lifestyle, and more.
Popular streamers like Ilyas "ilyaselmaliki" El Maliki, Soufiane "vodkafunky" Gharbaoui, and Yassin"bougassaa" Bougassaa have shown what Morocco is capable of on a global scale. They have taken entire communities, like Grand Theft Auto V, by storm.
Ilyas El Maliki even teamed up with Ibai "ibai" Llanos' Kings League to serve as president of the Moroccan side at the Kings World Cup Nations 2025, which broke several viewership records during its inaugural run in January. The team went all the way to the Semifinals, with Ilyas El Maliki's coverage of the matches making him the second-most-popular streamer of the event.
Many of these online personalities have also been hugely responsible for the success of certain games in the MENA region. Apart from GTA V, titles like Free Fire, EA Sports FC, and PUBG Mobile have made massive inroads into the Arabic-speaking parts of North Africa, earning legions of fans and adding a new demographic of fans to their competitive events.
Someone like Imane "Pokimane" Anys, of Moroccan descent, has become a legendary figure in global livestreaming, winning plenty of awards along the way. As one of the earliest proponents of video game livestreaming, she is a big inspiration for women in content creation and an example of the diversity of talent in the industry.
We also have to mention how the mobile gaming industry has flourished in Morocco, with smartphone availability increasing across different budget segments. That is why games like PUBG Mobile and Free Fire have found such high demand across the Arab-speaking world, including countries like Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
Today, like the rest of the world, there is a massive diversification of content and use cases in Morocco. Fans can get access to genres like gaming, sports, music, entertainment and lifestyle, education, news and journalism, religion and culture, and politics.
A vast majority of Moroccan content creators lean a lot into these segments, especially sports, music, and general lifestyle. IRL content is also pretty sought-after among viewers, making it a lucrative and safe option for streamers.
In terms of livestreaming services, Kick has had a surprising impact in its short existence, attracting some of the top Moroccan streamers. A cursory look at the most-watched internet stars from the country for 2024 shows how prominent the Stake-backed platform is, occupying half of the ten spots.
An industry leader like Twitch has had to take a backseat, in fact, with most of the top streamers choosing Kick as their platform of choice. What has helped the latter's cause are the more lenient rules regarding the type of content that influencers can broadcast, which includes the gambling genre.
Moreover, the revenue-sharing model is a lot more streamer-friendly than, say, Twitch, helping creators earn more even if they are not putting in massive hours into livestreaming like their counterparts from the Amazon-owned company.
Among organizations, YouTube remains the top dog, with many of the country's top names using the service as their home. A lot of content for the more conservative part of the population can be found here, including religious, political, and travel content.
Moroccan livestreaming has come a long way, but it still holds high potential
It's important to note that the landscape is constantly evolving, and new platforms and trends may emerge. The increasing digital literacy and connectivity in Morocco suggest that livestreaming will continue to grow in popularity and become an even more integral part of the digital experience.
Today, livestreaming in Morocco encompasses a rich tapestry of content and use cases. Gamers connect with their audiences on platforms like Kick and YouTube, building vibrant communities around virtual worlds. Entertainment and lifestyle creators share everything from music performances and cooking tutorials to beauty tips and daily life vlogs, fostering intimate connections with their viewers.
Educational institutions and experts utilize live video for online learning, webinars, and knowledge sharing, extending their reach beyond physical classrooms. News organizations leverage the immediacy of livestreaming to broadcast breaking news and live events, keeping the public informed in real time.
Even the commercial landscape has been transformed, with the burgeoning trend of e-commerce livestreaming allowing businesses and individuals to showcase products and interact with potential customers engagingly and dynamically. In times of crisis or celebration, livestreaming provides a platform for immediate information sharing and collective experience.
However, this rapid growth also presents certain challenges. Ensuring responsible content creation, addressing issues of misinformation, and bridging the digital divide to ensure equitable access to the benefits of livestreaming remain important considerations. As the technology continues to evolve and integrate further into daily life, addressing these challenges will be crucial for fostering a healthy and inclusive livestreaming ecosystem in Morocco.
Moreover, access to high-speed internet remains an obstacle to many. Statista said that, as of December 2024, 1.75% of ADSL subscriptions in the country had a connection speed of less than eight megabytes per second (MB/s). This shows that while the country has come a long way, most households still operate on basic internet speeds that just about allow for basic browsing, video calls, and, at times, livestreaming in standard definition.
In conclusion, livestreaming in Morocco has evolved from a futuristic concept to an integral part of the nation's digital fabric. Its journey reflects the country's technological progress and its people's embrace of new forms of communication and interaction. Today, it stands as a testament to the power of real-time connectivity, shaping how Moroccans connect, learn, entertain themselves, and participate in the evolving digital world. As technology continues its relentless march forward, livestreaming is poised to play an even more significant and multifaceted role in the future of Morocco's digital landscape.
