'@CheGuevara has started a live video, watch it before it ends!'
- James Nangle
- Jan 6, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 21, 2021
What if Che Guevara had access to Livestreaming Platforms?
Throughout the lifetime of Ernesto 'Che' Guevara, there were several times that he needed to amplify his voice and have his message heard by a wider audience.
effectively rally the Guatemalan people for a consolidated defence. Subsequently he was marked for execution by the new incoming regime and was forced to flea to the Argentinian Embassy where he stayed for almost 2 months (Biographics, 2018). If Che had access to a platform which democratized air-time then perhaps things may have unfolded very differently?
Che's experiences in Guatemala convinced him that the United States was the great enemy of freedom and that Capitalism was holding people in a state of subjugation. Could Che have increased his following by 'streaming' his revolutionary views and ideas during these early days?
Modern Day Soapbox Speaking
On June 24th 1993 the Garage band 'Severe Tire Damage' made internet history when they broadcast one of their gigs live on the the internet. "These days, anyone can broadcast on the Internet. Just pick up a phone or laptop and start singing... but back then, it wasn't nearly as simple".
Performing from the patios of Xerox PARC, the band which was made up of computer scientists broadcast onto the Internet Multicast Backbone (the "MBone"). This event has since been recognized as the first known example of internet "livestreaming".
The term 'Livestreaming' refers to online streaming media simultaneously recorded and broadcast in real-time. In 2020 the global video streaming market was valued at an enormous 50 billion USD! Today nearly all major players in the social media space offer a livestreaming platform, with leaders including Facebook Live and Twitch.
Democratization of Air Time
Modern livestreaming has effectively allowed anyone regardless of power or location reach a practically unlimited number of viewers in an instant. The popular platform 'YouTube' says that the first weekend of the 2019 Coachella music festival was its biggest music live-stream ever, with about 83 million live views. Just as when 'video killed the radio star', live online media has truly begun to take over traditional television programming in recent years.
If Che had access to a platform such as Instagram live while stuck in the Argentinian Embassy, he could have shared his message and views across the entire world through social media and livestreams. The fact that Che did manage to make a name for himself in a time when people really didn't want him to be heard is a testament to his drive and passion. If Che had been able to present himself live to millions of people across the world, imagine the even bigger impact he could have made.
Where does Livestreaming go from here?
The freedom of information that livestreaming provides can also come at a cost for edge cases. In the wake of January 2020's deadly pro-Trump attack on the Capitol building in Washington DC, US lawmakers have begun investigating the role that various online video-streaming platforms played in escalating the violence (ABC news). The prevalence of individuals livestreaming extreme views and calls to take action led to increased violence and heightened the mob mentality at the capitol. The resulting attack cost numerous people their lives. The effects of internet livestreaming are compounded by the ease at which the streams can be shared on social media platforms. Although in this case the outcome was tragic, it is hard to ignore the impressive role that this information system is playing in our modern society.
The Live Streaming Market is Expected to Reach USD 247.27 Billion By 2027, registering a CAGR of 28.1% (Market Future Research, 2020). The market is deemed to expand owing to the emergence of various social media platforms providing voice to opinions and commentaries on various interests. Financial experts attribute this to public figures, celebrities, and government agencies using the software for reaching masses. The COVID-19 pandemic has also positively impacted the live streaming market growth - Imposed lockdowns in nations and movement restrictions has led to people surfing streaming sites much more often.
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