Whispering on Twitch refers to the platform's private direct messaging feature, enabling users to communicate one-on-one in a confidential manner. It's a key form of communication that allows individuals to send messages directly to another user, visible only to the sender and recipient.
Understanding Twitch Whispers
Unlike the public chat, where all messages are visible to everyone in the channel, a whisper provides a private line of communication. This ensures that personal conversations, specific inquiries, or discreet coordination can take place without disrupting the main chat flow. It's an essential tool for privacy and focused communication within the bustling Twitch environment.
How to Send a Whisper
Sending a whisper on Twitch is straightforward and can be done in a few ways:
- Using the Chat Command: The most common method is by typing
/wfollowed by the recipient's username and then your message.- Example:
/w TwitchUser Hey, great stream today!
- Example:
- Clicking on a User's Name:
- Click on the username of the person you want to whisper to in the chat.
- A user card will appear. Select the "Whisper" option.
- Through the Whisper Window: On the Twitch website, you can also access your whisper conversations directly through the whisper icon (often a speech bubble) in the top right corner, allowing you to initiate new whispers or continue existing ones.
For more detailed information on sending whispers, you can refer to the official Twitch Support page on How to Whisper.
Practical Uses and Etiquette
Whispers serve various practical purposes on Twitch, from simple greetings to more complex coordination.
Common Uses for Whispers:
- Private Questions for Streamers/Mods: Asking a streamer a question that might be too specific or personal for public chat, or coordinating with a moderator.
- Coordination Among Viewers: Planning activities with friends, discussing spoilers, or sharing personal information like Discord tags or contact details privately.
- Sharing Sensitive Information: Exchanging information that shouldn't be publicly broadcasted, such as a personal story or a sensitive opinion.
- Avoiding Public Chat Congestion: If the main chat is moving too fast, whispers allow for a more focused and uninterrupted conversation.
Whisper Etiquette:
- Respect Privacy: Do not share the content of someone's whisper publicly without their explicit permission.
- Avoid Spamming: Do not send multiple, repetitive, or unnecessary whispers.
- Be Polite and Professional: Even in a private setting, maintain a respectful tone.
- Block or Report: If someone is sending unwanted or abusive whispers, utilize Twitch's block and report features.
Developer Integration: Whispers for Bots
Twitch also extends the functionality of whispers to automated systems, allowing developers to integrate whisper capabilities into chatbots and applications. This enables a more dynamic and interactive experience for users and streamers alike.
| Feature | User Whispers | Bot Whispers |
|---|---|---|
| Initiator | Individual Twitch users | Automated chatbots or applications |
| Purpose | Private communication, coordination, personal chat | Automated responses, notifications, moderation, interactive commands |
| Method | Chat command (/w), UI elements |
Twitch API (for sending), EventSub (for receiving) |
| Visibility | Sender & recipient only | Sender & recipient only |
This integration means that chatbots can be programmed to send automated messages directly to users, perhaps for private notifications, game invites, or specific command responses. Similarly, bots can be set up to receive whispers, allowing users to interact with a bot in a private context, which is particularly useful for commands that require user-specific information or should not be displayed in public chat.
