YouTube has launched a new 'Super Thanks' tool in beta that expands the methods content creators can deploy to monetize live and archived streams on the site. Super Thanks is the latest of the “super” features YouTube has launched, alongside Super Stickers and Super Chats, the latter of which allows live stream audiences to spend money in exchange for sending an eye-catching message that's highlighted in the regular stream feed. Super Stickers operate in much the same way, except viewers pick from a number of static and animated stickers instead of writing a full message.

YouTube has introduced a number of tools to help users monetize live streams as the company attempts to overcome Twitch, introducing paid channel memberships alongside paid digital goods. YouTube also introduced a fund for creators using the new Shorts feature to encourage community engagement as the site looks to take on TikTok. Last year, Google also introduced a new policy that allowed creators to use mid-roll ads on videos that are at least eight minutes long.

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The new Super Thanks feature, formerly Viewer Applause, allows viewers to send an animated GIF to content creators expressing their thanks and posts a comment highlighting the purchase in the comments section. YouTube explains Super Thanks can be posted on archived videos instead of live recordings, unlike Super Stickers and Chats. Currently, Super Thanks can be purchased at four price points; $2, $5, $10, and $50. YouTube plans to roll the feature out to "all eligible creators in the YouTube Partner Program later this year."

Who Is Eligible To Receive Thanks?

YouTube Super Thanks donation

Super Thanks cannot be added to videos that are age-restricted, unlisted, private, made for kids, have a content ID claim made against them, YouTube Giving fundraisers, or live streams. The feature is now available for select content creators in 68 countries on desktop and mobile. According to YouTube, one creator was able to generate a new revenue stream that "now accounts for nearly 15% of his revenue" when testing this feature last year. Those eligible to user Super Thanks can activate it by going to the monetization menu of the YouTube Studio and toggling on the Super Thanks option in the Supers menu. Once enabled, a "thanks" button will be visible on YouTube videos.

Adding new ways for creators to monetize their channels is important for YouTube, especially as creators turn to alternative crowdfunding sites like Patreon to establish a more stable cash flow. This is also at a time when some of YouTube's updates to its ad policies have affected creators, and especially when it comes to smaller channels. While using other crowdfunding sites does not necessarily hurt YouTube, since the site is still the premiere video-sharing platform on the internet, Google evidently does want to maximize the amount of money moving through its ecosystem and support its creators where possible.

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Source: YouTube