YouTube has unveiled a new feature called Communities aimed at enhancing user engagement on its platform. This addition will allow users to create posts within a YouTube Community and interact with responses from others. Furthermore, the company is introducing a ‘Hype’ button, a feature developed over the past year, intended to support emerging creators by increasing their visibility through a leaderboard that highlights the most-hyped videos across YouTube.
YouTube Communities Feature Launch
The Communities feature was revealed on Wednesday and will gradually be rolled out to select channels. It is expected to be fully accessible to users by next year, according to the company. This feature allows users to engage directly with channel owners by posting in a community setting, while also enabling other users to react and comment on these posts.
Previously, users only had the option to comment on videos within channels, often leading creators to rely on other platforms like Facebook, Discord, or Telegram for subscriber interaction. The introduction of the forum-like Communities feature could help YouTube retain users within its ecosystem.
It is important to note that the Communities feature will not be activated by default; channel owners will need to enable it manually. Additionally, channels must take responsibility for moderating their communities for any inappropriate content using a new Community Hub tool.
Understanding the YouTube Hype Button
YouTube described the Hype button as a tool designed specifically for emerging creators, who often struggle to reach broader audiences despite having dedicated followers. If a channel has fewer than 500,000 subscribers, viewers can use the Hype button to promote it, offering more impact than merely sharing or liking a video on the platform.
When users engage the Hype button, the video gains hype points, which help it climb a leaderboard showcasing the week’s most hyped videos. Users can check the latest rankings to discover which channels have garnered the most hype.
The Hype feature operates under specific conditions: videos can only be hyped if the channel has fewer than 500,000 subscribers, and this can be done within a week after the video’s release. Viewers are limited to three hypes per week, but YouTube is exploring the option of allowing users to purchase additional hypes as a means of monetizing content for creators.
Moreover, creators with smaller subscriber counts will receive a “small creator bonus,” essentially a score multiplier, designed to level the playing field on the leaderboard. Notably, YouTube has clarified that using the Hype button will not alter search results or video recommendations on the platform.
