{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T01:37:16Z","timestamp":1760060236789,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":68,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,19]],"date-time":"2025-08-19T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1755561600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Information"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This study examines the factors that motivate viewers to financially support streamers on the Twitch digital platform. It proposes a conceptual framework that combines the uses and gratifications theory (UGT) with Michel Foucault\u2019s concept of the practice of freedom (PF). Using a cross-sectional quantitative survey of 560 Portuguese Twitch users, the model investigates how three core constructs from UGT\u2014entertainment, socialization, and informativeness\u2014affect the intention to donate, with PF acting as a mediating variable. Structural equation modeling confirms that all three UGT-based motivations significantly influence donation intentions, with socialization exhibiting the strongest mediated effect through PF. The findings reveal that Twitch donations go beyond mere instrumental or playful actions; they serve as performative expressions of identity, autonomy, and ethical subjectivity. By framing PF as a link between interpersonal engagement and financial support, this study provides a contribution to media motivation research. The theoretical integration enhances our understanding of pro-social behavior in live streaming environments, challenging simplistic, transactional interpretations of viewer contributions vis-\u00e0-vis more political ones and the desire to freely dispose of what is ours to give. Additionally, this study may lay the groundwork for future inquiries into how ethical self-formation is intertwined with monetized online participation, offering useful insights for academics, platform designers, and content creators seeking to promote meaningful digital interactions.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/info16080708","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,19]],"date-time":"2025-08-19T11:41:41Z","timestamp":1755603701000},"page":"708","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Exploring Twitch Viewers\u2019 Donation Intentions from a Dual Perspective: Uses and Gratifications Theory and the Practice of Freedom"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2835-3169","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jos\u00e9","family":"Magano","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Center in Business and Economics (CICEE), Universidade Aut\u00f3noma de Lisboa, 1150-293 Lisboa, Portugal"},{"name":"Higher Institute of Business and Tourism Sciences (ISCET), 4050-180 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2154-6171","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Manuel","family":"Au-Yong-Oliveira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science (INESC TEC), 4200-465 Porto, Portugal"},{"name":"Research Unit on Governance, Competitiveness and Public Policies (GOVCOPP), Department of Economics, Management, Industrial Engineering and Tourism (DEGEIT), University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4855-8356","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Antonio","family":"S\u00e1nchez-Bay\u00f3n","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Business Economics (ADO), Applied Economics II, and Fundamentals of Economic Analysis, Economics & Business School, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28033 Madrid, Spain"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,19]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"293","article-title":"Renovaci\u00f3n del pensamiento econ\u00f3mico-empresarial tras la globalizaci\u00f3n: Talentism & Happiness Economics","volume":"24","year":"2020","journal-title":"Bajo Palabra"},{"key":"ref_2","first-page":"195","article-title":"Estudio bibliom\u00e9trico de Econom\u00eda Digital y sus tendencias","volume":"1","year":"2024","journal-title":"Rev. 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