A influência das redes sociais na formação de comunidades virtuais

: o caso da twitch em Portugal

Abstract

twitch is currently one of the most relevant digital platforms for live streaming, standing out as a privileged space for the creation and development of virtual communities. This dissertation aims to understand how twitch influences the formation of communities in Portugal, with the main goals of analyzing how streamers build and engage their audiences, how the platform enhances socialization and interaction among users, and identifying the challenges and opportunities that arise in this context. A mixed-methods approach was adopted: an online questionnaire targeting Portuguese twitch users, and semi-structured interviews with two national streamers who manage active communities. The findings reveal that twitch fosters a strong sense of belonging and interaction, often extended to complementary platforms such as Discord. The interviews further highlighted authenticity, consistency, and closeness as key factors for community engagement, as well as the importance of creating safe and respectful environments. Nevertheless, there are significant limitations regarding professionalization, given the small size of the Portuguese audience and the difficulty of sustaining careers solely on the platform. Still, twitch stands out as a catalyst for new forms of digital sociability, enabling the construction of bonds of friendship, shared interests, and mutual support. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the role of twitch in Portugal, while also opening pathways for future comparative research in other cultural contexts.

Date of Award	15 Jan 2026
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Simone Petrella (Supervisor)