YouTube has announced the global rollout of its “Hype” feature, designed to help fans elevate their favorite creators and enhance discoverability. Introduced at Google’s Made On YouTube event in 2024, the feature includes a dedicated button beneath the existing “like” button and will be available for videos from creators with fewer than 500,000 subscribers.
Currently accessible in 39 countries, including the U.S., U.K., Japan, Korea, Indonesia, and India, viewers can hype up to three videos each week for a chosen creator. This action awards points to the video, increasing its visibility on a newly ranked leaderboard found in the Explore menu. YouTube aims to provide smaller creators with a greater boost, meaning those with fewer subscribers will receive a more significant advantage when fans hype their content.
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Videos that receive this boost will feature a “hyped” badge, and users can filter their Home feed to display only “hyped” videos. Additionally, when a user’s hyped video approaches the leaderboard, YouTube will notify them. Dedicated supporters can earn a “hype star” badge each month as well.
YouTube developed the Hype feature in response to passionate fans wanting to contribute to a creator’s success. The company also sees potential for a new revenue stream, with plans to allow fans to purchase additional “hypes” to further boost their favorite videos. Currently, paid hypes are being tested in Brazil and Turkey.
In the near future, YouTube is working on hype leaderboards for specific interests, such as gaming and fashion, and features that enable fans to share their hype activity. Creators can monitor their hypes and hype points through the YouTube Studio mobile app, where they can also find a new Hype card in their video analytics.
SOURCE: TECH CRUNCH
