livestreaming

livestreaming, real-time transmission of information over the Internet in video format. Livestreaming is considered a form of broadcasting, with media intended for reception by the general public on a global scale. It differs from other forms of video viewing on the Internet in that video files are neither prerecorded nor stored before being transmitted to audiences. Thus, livestreaming provides opportunities for real-time interaction between audience members and streamers, which often occurs through supporting chat widgets and other chat software made available during the livestream. Livestreaming commonly is used for conference and webinar presentations, professional sports games, social media events, and video gaming sessions.

Historical developments

The first media players capable of livestreaming over the Internet were developed in the early 1990s. Some of the earliest events to be livestreamed were music concerts and a baseball game, the latter being broadcast with RealPlayer, a media player developed by RealNetworks, Inc. One of the first webcasts, made possible by technology developed by Excite@Home Network and broadcast from George Washington University, occurred in 1999; the event featured U.S. Pres. Bill Clinton.

The emergence of YouTube in 2005 opened the way to new opportunities in video streaming; the service hosted its first livestream event in 2008. Three years later the streaming service Twitch began hosting livestreams of video games, which became immensely popular. In the following years, platforms such as YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram introduced livestreaming capabilities for users. Livestreaming subsequently grew to become a popular avenue for communication, entertainment, and marketing.

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Technological considerations

Livestreams are deployed over various platforms, including social media platforms like YouTube Live, Facebook Live, Twitter, Instagram Live, and TikTok, as well as through professional business services, such as Kaltura and Dacast. In general, livestreaming platforms work by first capturing video footage via camera, with video content represented in the form of digital data that subsequently is compressed and encoded. In livestreaming, the digital data further is segmented, in which video frames are partitioned and aggregated and then distributed to viewers via a content delivery network (CDN; also called content distribution network). The CDN, which consists of a network of geographically dispersed proxy servers and data centres, caches (temporarily saves) the partitioned video segments on its network. Thus, rather than a network request from a viewer’s device having to travel the full distance to the origin server where the livestreaming is occurring—which could be hundreds or thousands of miles away—the request is sent to a server on the CDN that is geographically closer to the viewer. In this way, the CDN enables distribution of the broadcast to viewers with a real-time delay usually of only a few seconds. Viewers can then watch the livestream through an Internet browser or a livestreaming app downloaded onto devices ranging from smartphones to desktop computers and laptops.

Advantages and concerns

Livestreaming has multiple advantages over traditional means of broadcasting, especially in terms of variety of content, ability to reach a global audience, opportunities for social interaction, and providing a sense of community. Moreover, its likeness to reality TV, in which individuals can broadcast what they are doing in the moment, appeals to both streamers and viewers, with opportunities for creativity, improvisation, spontaneity, and mishaps. Livestreaming further enables presenters to be seen and heard and to receive immediate feedback, helping content creators to develop and hone their broadcasting skills.

The major concerns with livestreaming typically centre on privacy and children, for whom privacy, safety, and viewing of age-appropriate content are significant concerns. Children can be both streamers and viewers. As streamers, children expose themselves to exploitation, potentially harmful viewer comments, and inadvertent sharing of personal details; children in particular may feel pressured to act in a certain way when livestreaming, potentially setting unrealistic behavioral expectations for themselves and others. As viewers, children are at risk of exposure to inappropriate content, particularly content of a sexual or violent nature. Individuals of any age who are creating livestreams run the risk of making potentially offensive remarks and performing inappropriate actions that gain attention in a live broadcast.

Often, in the case of children and young people, concerns with livestreaming can be addressed through discussions about online safety and about how to be responsible digital citizens. Important aspects of livestreaming to be considered by streamers and viewers include thinking critically about content, understanding potential risks, and knowing where to seek support. Parent controls and privacy settings on devices and accounts can also be adjusted to help ensure user safety online.

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