Live-Streaming Social Platform

Industry: Media & Entertainment
Year: 2022

Real-time streaming platform built for creator-first live content

The Challenge

A media startup had a vision: build a live-streaming platform that put creators first. Not another Twitch clone, but something that combined the intimacy of live content with the discoverability of social media. They needed real-time streaming, interactive features, content moderation at scale, and analytics that helped creators grow—all without the toxic elements that plague similar platforms.

The technical challenges were significant: sub-second latency for live interactions, scaling to handle viral moments, content moderation that balanced safety with creative freedom, and a recommendation system that surfaced quality content without creating filter bubbles. The business challenge was equally complex: how do you build community features that encourage positive interactions while maintaining the energy of live content?

Our Approach

We approached this as both a technical and community design problem. Before writing code, we spent time understanding what made existing platforms succeed (and fail). We interviewed creators across different niches to understand their workflows, pain points, and what would make them switch platforms.

Our technical strategy focused on:

  1. Real-time infrastructure that could handle unpredictable load spikes
  2. Modular architecture so features could evolve independently
  3. Content moderation that combined AI detection with human review
  4. Analytics that gave creators actionable insights, not just vanity metrics

We built the platform in layers: core streaming first, then social features, then monetization tools. Each layer was tested with real creators before moving to the next, ensuring we were building what people actually needed.

The Solution

We delivered a full-featured streaming platform with native web and mobile experiences:

Live Streaming Infrastructure

  • Low-Latency Streaming: WebRTC-based streaming with adaptive bitrate, achieving sub-2-second latency for real-time interaction
  • Multi-Platform Support: Stream from mobile, desktop, or professional broadcasting software (RTMP)
  • Automatic Transcoding: Multiple quality levels generated on-the-fly for different connection speeds
  • DVR & Clips: Viewers can rewind live streams or create shareable clips during broadcasts

Social & Discovery

  • Creator Profiles: Customizable pages with bio, schedule, past streams, and social links
  • Smart Feed: Algorithm balancing followed creators, trending content, and personalized recommendations
  • Real-Time Chat: Moderated chat with custom emotes, subscriber badges, and interactive polls
  • Categories & Tags: Discoverability through browsable categories and creator-defined tags

Moderation & Safety

  • AI-Assisted Moderation: Real-time content analysis for policy violations with human review escalation
  • Creator Tools: Automod settings, banned words, trusted moderators, and timeout controls
  • Reporting System: Streamlined reporting with clear status updates and appeals process
  • Community Guidelines: Transparent policies with progressive enforcement

Analytics & Growth

  • Stream Dashboard: Real-time viewer count, chat activity, and engagement metrics
  • Growth Analytics: Follower trends, viewer retention, and content performance over time
  • Revenue Tracking: For monetized creators, clear earnings reports and payout tracking

Results & Impact

Full-stack streaming platform: WebRTC ingest, adaptive transcoding, low-latency playback

Sub-2-second glass-to-glass latency for real-time audience interaction

AI-assisted content moderation pipeline with human escalation workflow

Native iOS and Android apps alongside responsive web experience

Real-time chat with custom emotes, polls, and moderation tools

Platform shut down due to market conditions, not technical limitations

Technologies Used

ReactReact NativeNode.jsPostgreSQLRedisWebRTCAWS MediaLiveCloudFrontElasticsearchTensorFlow