A mom surprised her son, a 14-year-old Twitch streamer, with his first paycheck from the platform in an emotional moment that’s going viral on TikTok.
Live streaming is becoming an increasingly popular career path as internet icons like IShowSpeed and Kai Cenat edge their way into the mainstream media.
Garnering millions of avid followers, snagging profitable brand deals and even rubbing elbows with A-List celebrities, the life of a streamer is a glamorous one — and more kids than ever want to be content creators when they grow up, rather than doctors or lawyers.
Parents are also starting to encourage their kids’ live streaming dreams, such as one mother who shared the moment her son received his first paycheck from Twitch.
Kai Cenat and IShowSpeed have kicked off the next generation of streamers.
On July 17, 2025, TikTok user ‘Alma M’ uploaded a video to TikTok showing herself collecting her son’s Twitch check from the mailbox.
Twitch praises 14-year-old streamer for first paycheck
She revealed that her son, named AJ, had only been streaming for two months — meaning that, in just 60 days’ time, he’d managed to reach Affiliate status.
Twitch grants this status when streamers meet certain requirements, such as having at least 50 followers, streaming for at least eight hours, streaming on seven different days and having an average of at least three viewers.
“I’m super proud of him,” she said. “He’s been super dedicated, so I’m curious to see how much his check is gonna be. …maybe he can pay for me to get my nails done.”
After grabbing his check from the mailbox, she sat AJ down in the dining room and gathered the rest of the family to watch him open the envelope, earning a round of applause and a warm hug for his hard work.
The total amount ended up being $97.15 — not bad for one of a teenager’s first jobs!
Viewers were equally impressed by AJ’s work ethic, with one writing in the comments: “That $97 can turn into $9,700, congrats to him!”
“Copy it, frame it, and hang it up in his room. Keep going kid!” another said.
Even Twitch took notice of the video, taking the time to comment: “It’s just the beginning. Congratulations!”
In just 24 hours, Alma’s TikTok has racked up over 3.5 million views, prompting her and AJ to upload a second video thanking fans for their encouragement.
“I read all the comments,” AJ said. “I appreciate all the love and support, and all the new followers on Twitch.”
He and his mother also addressed parents who might be concerned for their kids’ safety streaming online, with AJ explaining Twitch’s “strict” ban system regarding inappropriate content.
“He makes his own schedule,” Alma said to one viewer in the comments. “He edits his own videos, too. He’s serious about it!”
Thanks to his own hard work and his mom’s viral video, AJ has managed to rack up 2.2K followers at the time of writing. AJ plays a variety of games on Twitch, including titles like Roblox, Clash Royale, and Fortnite, along with the occasional Just Chatting broadcast.
While it might be surprising to some that AJ is able to make money from streaming at such a young age, Twitch allows users to create an account to start broadcasting at 13 years old.
Content shared from www.dexerto.com.