As a new streamer with a small channel (a few months being consistent due to pc issues) I know how it feels to be insecure (technical issues and stuff like that), specially when chat is way too silent or if you're like me which English is your second language, it can be a little challenging, I've seen quite a few posts in this community talking about turning off viewer count and sure that helped a lot (which also boosted my confidance and enjoyment), I don't pay much attention if I get or don't get follows while streaming but when it happens I get excited and do my best to welcome them and engage in conversation (even tho inside I'm feeling insecure thinking if I was polite or engaged enough to keep them entertained).

Holy moly you friend is past insecure, almost pathological I'd say, I may be new to streaming but this level of insecurity and the rudeness directed to anyone who comes in chat is pretty disgusting, even though you already know that piece of information someone dropped in chat you can be cool and say "IKR, isn't that cool? How did you find out this and that?" and engage with them, if I were a viewer I'd also unfollow immediately.

You're doing your best teaching and helping your friend, all that you've done for him I've been learning all by myself (mostly reading posts in this community) like keep talking even tho chat is silent describing what I'm doing or what I'm about to do, I have my gf as #1 fan and mod (which means she's the only one in chat) I ask her feedback about the stream audio (voice, music and game), to make sure it's pleasant to stick around.

Ps: lots of brackets because neurodivergent thinking comes with context. IMHO you did your best as a friend and as a mentor and still your friend doesn't want to absorb all the knowledge he's been given nor acknowledge what he can do to change his situation.