Should Twitch moderators be paid? Here's what Kai Cenat says

William Davis Published 26/10/2022

Popular streamer Kai Cenat sparked a conversation after declaring that moderators cannot be expected to be paid if they volunteered for the job.

Moderators are the unsung heroes of Twitch. The difference between an enjoyable chat and absolute chaos is good moderators. It is a lot of responsibility for little reward or sometimes none at all. One of the most popular streamers on the platform had something controversial to say about whether mods should get paid or not.

“What makes you think I’ll pay? I can go to my first VOD and if I said, ‘who wants to mod?’ I bet that you’d be like ‘Me, me!’. You can’t get mad at people for not paying,” said Kai.

Kai has 2.6 million followers on Twitch and averages over 70k viewers on his stream. On his YouTube channel, Kai has 2.83 million subscribers and 2 million followers on Instagram.

Do Twitch moderators get paid?

Moderators are considered volunteers and as result, do not receive payment from the streamers.

While this might be acceptable for a small streamer when it comes to bigger streamers, the conversation changes. Big streamers, like Ludwig, can make a six-figure income on subs alone. Add brand deals and the number will be significant. If the money is not the issue, it goes back to the nature of the job itself.

In a channel like Kai’s where so many viewers interact at the same time, moderating can be an arduous and consuming job. Mods volunteer because they are fans of the content creator and are not looking for more than acknowledgment. However, when streamers talk openly about their income and still refuse to reward their mods, it is not the best impression.

On Twitter, users had mixed reactions to Kai’s clip. Some believed that since it’s volunteer work, it doesn’t warrant payment. Others believed that it depended on how much work the mods do for a particular streamer.  

Read Also

GTA

iShowSpeed and Kai Cenat Live-React to GTA 6 Netflix Extended Look Khizar Mundia For the upcoming GTA 6 release, it is fair to say that Rockstar Games has done things differently. Instead of the traditional gameplay trailer that we have come to expect, the developer instead utilized streaming platform Netflix for an extended look. What's more, some organic marketing fit for the 21st century took place at the same time, with several notable streamers, including Darren “iShowSpeed” Watkins Jr., reacting to the footage ...

Twitch

Kevin Hart Thinks Livestreaming Is the Future, Says Kai Cenat Does Super Bowl Numbers Khizar Mundia Hollywood actor and comedian Kevin Hart recently discussed the stratospheric popularity of content creators, comparing Kai Cenat’s livestreams to the Super Bowl in terms of viewership. Kai Cenat is unquestionably one of the biggest streamers in the world right now, and Hollywood actor Kevin Hart has used his viewership reach as an example of why livestreaming is a major opportunity for the young generation. James Dumoulin is a significantly popular ...

Twitch

Here’s What We Know About Kai Cenat’s Annual Mafia Stream Khizar Mundia Twitch star Kai Cenat has returned to full-time streaming with some of the most notable broadcasts of his career — and now he has announced that he will start an annual tradition of hosting a Mafia stream. Kai Cenat has shown no signs of slowing down since his return from his unexpected hiatus. The streamer hosted Streamer University 2026, competed in gaming marathons, announced that he wants to be the ...

Twitch

iShowSpeed Partners With KFC: Has the Streamer Ever Been Bigger? Khizar Mundia Darren “iShowSpeed” Watkins Jr. is continuing his rapid rise as a globally-recognizable personality, with the IRL YouTuber now linking up with KFC for a new menu item on. 2026 has been a special year for Speed, with the streamer setting several milestones, performing at the FIFA World Cup 2026, and also being featured in Complex, Forbes, and other mainstream publications’ lists. The year seems to consistently be getting better for ...

Twitch

Kai Cenat Recreates The La Peace Meme — Here’s What Made It Such a Big Hit Khizar Mundia Kai Cenat has returned to streaming with a bang in recent months, with his latest broadcast seeing him recreate the viral La Peace meme. Twitch streamer Kai Cenat has a massive following that waited for him to return from his self-imposed break and supported him after his return. This was highlighted by how successful his Streamer University 2026 became, and how many viewers tuned in to his and Darren “iShowSpeed” ...

Twitch

Here’s How Cinna Became the Second All-Time Most-Subscribed Female Twitch Streamer Khizar Mundia Brittany "Cinna" Lynn Watts has developed a remarkable following in recent years, with her content leading her to become the one of the most successful streamers on Twitch. Cinna is known for her Just Chatting and IRL content, but viewers were surprised when she announced that she would be doing a Cinnathon in August. Some were skeptical about whether Cinna has the consistency and creativity to run a successful subathon, ...

Twitch

iShowSpeed vs. Jynxzi: Everything We Know About Their Bro vs Bro Challenge Khizar Mundia Nicholas “Jynxzi” Stewart revealed in a recent stream that he will be collaborating with Darren “iShowSpeed” Watkins Jr. for a bro vs bro gaming challenge. Jynxzi has claimed it will be a generational broadcast and has now shared further details of what it will entail. Gaming streams have always been a popular category among viewers, and several of the top creators built their names by streaming popular titles. Speed and ...