Is Mainstream Culture Gone?, Twitch AI Stream Coach, Kick on Roku + Kai Cenat VIVET Launch

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Do you remember when everyone was on the same page culturally? You could talk to anyone about a TV show, and have a real conversation. Or a movie, or event in pop culture, or something major globally that was happeneing - and everyone was aware of it. Is that mainstream culture gone? YouTube just released a report on it, and it offers some intriguing insight suggesting it's not gone; it's just different. It's a similar feeling I have to a lot of online spaces. I used to be able to name every YouTube channel with more than 1M subscribers... but now, I find a channel with 50M subscribers, and I've never even heard their name. Alas, a part of me misses the 'simpler' days a decade ago - and saying that makes me feel older than I am. Let's jump into the news!

🟪 TWITCH

• Twitch is testing an AI Stream Coach that will give you feedback after every stream.
• A malicious Twitch browser extension exposed 30,000 Users’ OAuth Tokens to a Russian bot service, according to Socket. Check your connections! Remove suspicious access.
• Twitch is releasing the ability to celebrate both your Affiliate/Partner anniversary and your First Stream anniversary.
• Twitch removed Just Catting as a category. It was added in 2024 after the April Fools joke actually resulted in sustained cat content.
• Get Ready With Me (GRWM) has replaced Beauty & Body Art as a category.
• Twitch's new CMO appeared on the Scalable podcast to talk about her priorities and plans for the platform.
• Twitch CEO Dan Clancy is speaking at Japan's Tokyo Game Show.
• Twitch released a State of Gaming report. It's written for advertisers, but still interesting.
• New Paid Badges: WSCI 2026, Payday 3, Lego Batman
• New Watch Time Badges: Runescape (30M), Solasta 2 (30M), Payday 3 (30-90M)

🟥 YOUTUBE

• YouTube released a new Trends Report covering whether mainstream culture is disappearing. They say it's not, but it's just different than what it used to be.
• YouTube is expanding its Get Feedback tool for Shorts creators in the USA, using AI to help with hooks, pacing, and visuals.
• YouTube announced an exclusive YouTube series about nopixel.
• YouTube is making disclosure changes, including wording updates and specific options for EU creators doing paid political content.

⬛ TIKTOK

• TikTok is partnering with Amplify to launch creator-led content series specifically for brands.

🟦 OTHER PLATFORMS

• Kick Partners/Verified can now pin five VODs to the top of their channel page.
• Kick is now available on Roku devices.
• Kick removed Partner status from 415 users.
• Kick has been accused of inflating viewership in gambling content.