>>53582121I agree watchalongs are just react content, but there are some structural differences. The fact that they only happen every one in a while, get low numbers, and are often kept to member streams mean they're simply a minor thing that people can ignore.
The problem with react content is the fact in my opinion is that it's so insanely low effort in exchange for massive payoff (at least historically, judging by twitch). This leads to people shamelessly spamming it more and more because it's just stupid amounts of money, viewership etc. for essentially doing nothing (don't have to focus on a game, don't have to read chat, just watch and occasionally mumble or fake an overhyped reaction).
People see right through how gay this is and that's what rubs people wrong, it's almost like a MORAL revulsion towards it rather than something about taste.
Hell I get why reaction content can be interesting, the idea of watching your oshi react to "THAT scene" that you like so much, etc. can be a big allure. And then on twitch in particular you get the added benefit of a free viewing screen for, say, Masterchef or whatever is the blatantly copyright-infringing FOTM that twitch won't lift a finger about - don't have to search for an illegal streaming site or torrent, don't have to sync the timer, etc.
But there is so much baggage attached to that shit, and people know exactly what kind of lazy exploiting rabbit hole it leads down.
