YouTube is finally rolling out its new “Hype” feature across the globe. It is now available in 39 countries, including the U.S., U.K., Japan, Korea, Indonesia, and India. This is a new feature from the company to support smaller creators and help them get discovered.
The feature was announced last year and was available in limited regions. It allows viewers to browse videos from channels with fewer than 500,000 subscribers. Each fan can hype up to three videos per week, and those videos earn points that feed into a ranked leaderboard in the Explore tab. In order to level the playing field, YouTube says creators with smaller subscriber counts receive a bigger boost, making it easier for fresh talent to break through. However, the global launch comes with some updates that are said to increase visibility and make the feature easier to use.
What’s New for Fans
Fans will now have a dedicated hype button that directly sits under videos. The hyped videos will also get a display badge across YouTube. It also allows fans to filter their home screen and see only hyped content.
Apart from that, fans will also get notified when a video they hyped is close to making the leaderboard. Besides, frequent supporters can earn a monthly “hype star” badge to showcase their fandom.
What’s New for Creators
When it comes to the creator’s side, the YouTube Studio’s mobile app now shows how many hypes and hype points each video has earned. There’s also a new hype card in video analytics that gives creators a clearer view of how the feature is driving engagement.
Going ahead, the company plans to expand the feature with category-specific leaderboards for areas like gaming and style, as well as options for fans to share when they hype a video, giving creators an even bigger spotlight.
