Why we should take Twitch chat seriously: The cyborgification of online interaction (Part 1)

We often think of our online interactions as spontaneous—likes, comments, emojis, or memes shared in the moment. But what if our expressions weren’t just human? What if they were co-produced by the tools we use?

- By YANRO JUDD C. FERRER

This is the heart of cyborgification. It’s not sci-fi—it’s sociology. The term captures moments when humans and technologies co-create meaning, emotion, and identity in digital spaces. From Facebook reactions to GIFs, we’re constantly communicating through tools that quietly shape what we say, how we say it, and who gets heard. Grasping this idea helps us see how technology doesn’t just connect us—it helps define the connection itself.

Twitch.tv offers one of the clearest views of this process. The platform is far bigger than most people realize. In 2025, Twitch hosts over 240 million monthly users, with roughly 35 million people logging in every day, and around 2.6 million users watching simultaneously at any moment. Globally, over 7 million creators stream every month, and viewers have logged 23 billion hours of content this year. While much of the content is gaming, Twitch also hosts musicians, activists, educators—even political events—with audiences spanning the globe.