It’s no secret that Twitch is rithe with viewbots, and that’s understandable - they have a flawed ranking algorithm that pushes small accounts to the bottom of the list where they’ll never be seen. Another point that no-one really mentions is that it’s all psychology
When potential viewers see a stream with a larger audience, they’re more likely to join. This phenomenon is known as social proof, where people assume the actions of others reflect the correct behavior. In the case of a twitch view bot, a higher viewer count can signal that a stream is engaging or valuable.
If a streamer has many viewers, others might perceive them as more knowledgeable or entertaining, even if that's not the case. This perception can create a feedback loop - more viewers lead to more perceived authority, which can attract even more viewers.
There's also the psychological effect of expectation. Streamers might feel more pressure to perform when they have a higher viewer count, potentially leading to better engagement and energy. Conversely, a small audience might lead to less motivation or a more casual performance, which can affect the quality of the stream.