Streams Charts, an advanced livestreaming analytics platform, together with Audiencly, a leading influencer marketing agency, have released an in-depth Whitepaper on the growing problem of viewbotting across major livestreaming platforms. Alongside exclusive data, the White Paper features insights from industry experts, including Twitch, who share their perspective on the challenges and solutions around combating viewbotting, specifically for this research.
Download the full Whitepaper here
Key findings:
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Viewbotting is not just a technical nuisance, it’s a multi-million dollar threat to the integrity of livestreaming, influencer marketing, and brand trust.
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In Q2 2025, more than 41,000 Twitch channels with 50+ average viewers had at least one suspicious stream, and over 4,400 streamers (10.8%) showed persistent signs of viewbotting.
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On Kick, nearly one-sixth of streamers with 50+ average viewers were identified as engaging in suspicious activity consistent with viewbotting.
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In a single quarter, suspicious Twitch streams generated over 30 million fake watch hours (comparable to the weekly viewership of Netflix’s top series). On Kick, nearly 20 million hours were attributed to botted streams.
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The most affected categories include Virtual Casino (13% of all fake traffic), Just Chatting (10%), and Counter-Strike (9%).
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Modern viewbots now rotate IPs, simulate chat, and even use AI to respond to questions. Streams Charts found that 10% of streamers using analytics tools actively engage in viewbotting while adapting to evade detection.
Real business impact
Brands and advertisers lose hundreds of thousands of dollars to fake audiences. The most affected are advertisers using campaign automation tools (such as StreamElements, Wehype, Gamesight, and Lurkit), energy drink brands (GamerSupps, Rogue Energy, and Advanced), various CS2 case-opening marketplaces, and GTA RP servers.
Detection is possible
While no platform has fully solved the issue, analytics tools can reliably flag suspicious streams using metrics like authorized viewer ratios, chat activity, and retention patterns. The White Paper calls for industry-wide cooperation, third-party auditing, and greater transparency to protect brands, creators, and audiences.
Streams Charts’ Product Manager, Nazar Babenko, comments:
“In just one quarter, we saw tens of millions of fake watch hours across major platforms—numbers that rival the viewership of the world’s most popular shows. Viewbotting isn’t just inflating stats; it’s distorting marketing decisions and eroding trust. With this whitepaper, our goal is to bring transparency, provide clear detection methods, and help every stakeholder—from advertisers to creators—make smarter, more trusted decisions in livestreaming marketing.”
Audiencly’s Marketing Manager, Sima Spielmann, comments:
“In recent months, we’ve seen increased public discussion around viewbotting and how platforms are addressing this issue. Many brands have been hesitant to invest in influencer marketing on live platforms due to uncertainty or negative experiences with inflated metrics. I hope that this paper provides the much-needed clarity for marketers to make data-driven decisions. It’s a resource that proves influencer marketing still works if you know what to look out for.”
About Streams Charts
Streams Charts is an advanced analytics platform offering an in-depth view of the livestreaming market. We enable the analysis of all key metrics for channels, streams, content categories, and creator communities.
Our data is updated in real-time and spans from 2019, covering over 50 million channels across top platforms such as Twitch, YouTube, Kick, NimoTV, CHZZK, and others. This extensive coverage makes Streams Charts the world’s largest database of livestreaming statistics and analytics.
Streams Charts offers unique features, including audience retention rates, customizable time filters, insights for ad sales & brand partnerships, Twitch viewers' geolocation data and more. These tools facilitate identifying market opportunities, ensuring targeted and effective marketing strategies for our clients and partners. Streams Charts also provides streamers with valuable insights into their viewership and engagement, enabling them to optimize content and expand their audience
About Audiencly
Audiencly is a leading influencer marketing agency, part of the Flexion Mobile Plc, dedicated to elevating brands through unique and creative campaigns. We transform audiences into loyal fans using our Optimized Influencer Marketing process.
Founded in 2018, Audiencly initially specialized in the gaming sector before rapidly expanding into lifestyle marketing. Today, we craft creative influencer marketing strategies across diverse industries, connecting brands with a global network of influencers: from emerging talents to established trendsetters.
Our Optimized Influencer Marketing process ensures the seamless collaboration between our influencer experts and campaign strategists. This guides our campaigns from careful selection to powerful execution in three straightforward steps. We provide full-service support, leveraging exclusive talent and creative strategies, from planning to performance analysis, ensuring maximum campaign effectiveness.