TikTok Live has witnessed a surge in popularity of its IRL (In Real Life) category during Q2 2025, marking a significant shift in content consumption and creator strategies. This rise in real-life streaming highlights the growing demand for authentic, unfiltered content that connects viewers with creators on a personal level.
In Q2 2025, the livestreaming industry continued to evolve, with TikTok Live maintaining steady viewership while other top platforms like YouTube Live and Twitch experienced slight dips in watch time. This resilience underscores the platform’s ability to adapt to changing viewer preferences and its strength in catering to niche communities. Kick also emerged as a significant contender, adding to the competitive dynamics of the livestreaming landscape. Compare TikTok vs. Twitch for a detailed comparison of top livestreaming platforms.
According to data from TikTok Live Stats, mobile gaming titles are massively popular on the mobile-based platform. TikTok’s origins as a go-to app for mobiles have given it a prime position to enter the livestreaming market here, and Q2 saw the platform cement its new place as a major player in the industry. This data underlines the importance of understanding audience preferences when creating content for the platform.
TikTok Live’s IRL Revolution: The Appeal of Authenticity
The IRL category on TikTok Live encompasses a wide range of content, from casual vlogs and daily life updates to travel adventures and spontaneous interactions with viewers. What sets IRL streams apart is their unscripted nature and the genuine connection they foster between creators and their audience. This authenticity is a key driver of the category’s popularity, as viewers are increasingly seeking content that feels real and relatable.
Here are some key factors driving the popularity of IRL streaming on TikTok Live:
- Authenticity: Viewers are increasingly seeking content that feels real and relatable, and IRL streams deliver just that.
- Community: IRL streams create a sense of community, allowing viewers to interact with creators and each other in real-time.
- Spontaneity: The unscripted nature of IRL streams means that anything can happen, making them exciting and unpredictable to watch.
- Accessibility: The ease of creating and consuming IRL content on TikTok Live has contributed to its widespread adoption.
- Personal Connection: IRL streams allow viewers to connect with creators on a personal level, fostering a sense of intimacy and loyalty.
Gaming and Mobile Legends on TikTok Live
Gaming viewership shifted slightly for Q2 on the mobile platform, with MLBB exploding ahead of the competition into the lead, growing by almost 20M Hours Watched this quarter. Roblox also jumped up significantly, marking an increase of a massive 50M HW. The growth of these two different games highlights a mixed viewership for casual titles and esports broadcasting: this mix of casual and competition has helped other platforms like Twitch and YouTube maintain solid viewership daily, while also having potential for sizable peak viewerships. TikTok Stats offers detailed insights into the gaming category on TikTok Live, providing valuable data for content creators and marketers.
The Future of IRL Streaming on TikTok Live
As TikTok Live continues to evolve, the IRL category is poised to play an even greater role in the platform’s success. The growing demand for authentic, unfiltered content suggests that IRL streaming will continue to attract a large and engaged audience. TikTok Live’s ability to foster community and encourage personal connection will be key drivers of the category’s future growth. Content creators who can tap into these trends and create compelling IRL content are likely to find significant success on the platform.
