YouTube Hype Feature Now Global: Boost for Smaller Creators

YouTube’s Global Rollout of the “Hype” Feature

The video-sharing platform, YouTube, has announced the worldwide availability of its “Hype” feature. This functionality empowers viewers to actively contribute to the discovery of content creators they admire.

Feature Introduction and Availability

Initially unveiled during the 2024 Google Made On YouTube event, the “Hype” feature is represented by a dedicated button positioned below the standard “like” button on videos. It is now accessible to creators who have a subscriber count of under 500,000.

Currently, the feature is operational in 39 countries, encompassing major markets such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, and India.

How the “Hype” Feature Works

Viewers are given the opportunity to “hype” up to three videos each week for their preferred creators. Each instance of hyping awards the video points, influencing its position on a newly implemented, ranked leaderboard accessible through YouTube’s Explore menu.

To ensure equitable support, YouTube has designed the system to provide a greater advantage to smaller creators. A creator with a smaller subscriber base will receive a more significant boost when their videos are hyped by fans.

Visibility and Recognition

Videos that have benefited from this fan-driven boost will display a distinctive “hyped” badge. Furthermore, users can customize their YouTube Home feed to exclusively view content within the new “hyped” category.

Users who contribute to hyping a video will receive notifications as it approaches the leaderboard. Consistent support is also rewarded with a new “hype star” badge, earned monthly.

Future Revenue and Development

YouTube stated that the introduction of Hype was prompted by a desire to allow passionate fans to participate in a creator’s journey to success. However, the platform also intends to leverage this feature as a new revenue source.

Plans are in place to allow fans to purchase additional “hypes” to further promote their favorite videos. This functionality is currently being tested in Brazil and Turkey, as confirmed by YouTube to TechCrunch.

Upcoming Enhancements

Looking ahead, YouTube is developing specialized hype leaderboards tailored to specific interests, such as gaming and style. A feature enabling fans to share their “hype” actions is also under development.

Creator Tools and Analytics

Creators can monitor their hype activity and accumulated hype points within the YouTube Studio mobile application. New Hype cards and recaps will also be integrated into their weekly data stories, providing valuable insights into video performance.