Content Creator Earns $16,000 in Just 7 Hours of Sleep Streaming
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The Rise of Sleep Streaming
At first glance, the idea of an audience paying to watch someone sleep may seem absurd. Yet, it's a reality for a growing number of streamers. Asian Andy, a prominent figure in this niche, shared his experience in a video titled "How I made $16,000 while sleeping for 7 hours." While video titles can often be misleading, Andy’s narrative captures attention.
During a live stream, Andy succumbed to sleep after consuming candy he found in his P.O. box. His viewers, eager to wake him, began sending donations which triggered amusing messages and sounds—ranging from screams to explosive noises. Some fans even used text-to-speech commands to further disrupt his slumber.
After this initial experience, which earned him $800, he continued experimenting with sleep streaming. By 2020, he managed to rake in an astonishing $16,000 in just seven hours of sleep.
The Appeal of Disturbing Sleep
Not everyone is content with watching a person lie still in bed; many viewers find joy in interrupting the streamer's sleep and observing their reactions. This common annoyance of being disturbed while resting has now turned into a profitable venture.
Asian Andy isn't the only one engaging in this trend. In 2017, Ice Poseidon generated $5,000 by allowing viewers to request text-to-speech messages and song donations, each costing $100. Although Twitch temporarily banned sleep streaming due to its classification as "unattended content," the ban was lifted in February 2021, paving the way for more sleep content on the platform.
Ludwig also contributed significantly to the popularity of sleep streams. He hosted a subathon where every new subscription extended his stream by 10 seconds, resulting in a 31-day marathon. Surprisingly, watching him sleep became one of the most popular segments of his show.
Current Trends in Sleep Streaming
As I began drafting this article, a Twitch account named DadFeels was in the midst of a 10-day streaming challenge. His inaugural subathon kicked off on February 15, allowing viewers to pay $5 to send loud noises to disrupt his sleep. By the end of the first day, he had already garnered $380.92.
While DadFeels is asleep, he interacts with his viewers, creating a unique blend of engagement. Exploring Twitch, one can discover more streamers embracing this concept and analyze their followers' peculiar behaviors.
Understanding the Audience
Why do people tune in to watch others sleep? Is it sadism, curiosity, loneliness, or a sense of care? Comments on various streams often suggest that viewers are seeking connection. As Ana Diaz from Polygon.com notes, this phenomenon resembles a "childhood virtual slumber party" that offers a sense of intimacy during a time when many felt isolated, particularly during the pandemic.
After researching this topic, I found myself empathizing with streamers like Dad. His content is relatable, and his genuine interactions with his audience reflect a desire to connect. Each viewer's motivation for watching sleep streams is deeply personal, and for some, it might even stem from compassion and shared experiences.
The New Economy of Content Creation
The modern economy presents a variety of unconventional ways to earn income that previous generations might find perplexing. As automation looms on the horizon, embracing diverse content creation paths could be crucial.
Anyone can potentially become the next successful sleep streamer. Euan Garcera, a gamer from the Philippines, shared with Esquire that he initially earned $60 from gaming streams. However, once he ventured into sleep streaming, his follower count increased, leading to monthly earnings between $120 and $300.
Self-exposure can serve as a form of therapy, allowing individuals to confront challenges with humor and perspective. While the notion of sleeping under the gaze of strangers may feel strange to older generations, it resonates with younger audiences.
As many consider new career paths, sleep streaming could be an intriguing option worth exploring. Why not give it a try?