YouTube is adding a new button that lets viewers donate $2 to a content creator every time it is clicked. YouTube has been looking for new ways to help creators monetize their channels, and this seems to be the latest one. However, it is unlikely to benefit all creators, equally.
The new “viewer applause” feature appears to still be in testing and therefore, it is not yet available to all creators. In addition, it currently needs to be activated by the YouTuber. Therefore, there’s no guarantee that every video by a creator included in the program will have the feature enabled. From the creator perspective, one of the major benefits of this feature (compared to recent monetization methods), is that viewer applause is not just for live broadcasts - it can potentially be applied to all videos, live or pre-recorded, new or old.
As detailed in a recent vidIQ post, those watching a viewer applause-enabled video will be presented with a small "clapping" button located between the like and dislike options. Clicking the button allows users to quickly donate to the video creator with each donation costing $2. Once the donation has been made, a brief clapping animation is played over the video for the viewer (who purchased the applause) to see. At present, there’s no limit on how many times a person can applaud a video although a YouTube Help post does explain that viewer applause can only be purchased through the desktop website, and only in Australia, Brazil, India, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, and the U.S.
Good For Content Creators, But Not All YouTubers
Any additional monetization features introduced to YouTube is likely to be welcomed by the YouTuber community, and especially ones that make it simple to tip content. However, this seems unlikely to be a feature that will benefit those most adversely affected by the latest changes to the platform. As part of a recent FTC settlement, YouTube agreed to tone down on the monetization methods deployed through videos that might be viewed by younger users. This change is thought to have impacted a number of YouTube channels, including those hosting videos appealing to a wider audience that also might also appeal to viewers under the age of 13.
When making the changes, YouTube stated it was working on new money-making features to help transition those affected channels, and that it would announce the new monetization methods in due course. However, due to the nature of payments, and how easily they can be made in this case, it would seem unlikely this feature will be available to those creators. Especially considering YouTube notes there are no refunds for viewer applause donations.
Source: vidIQ