YouTube Unveils ‘Hype’ Feature to Empower Emerging Creators Worldwide

YouTube has unveiled its global “Hype” feature, which is aimed at helping fans promote their favorite creators. Originally introduced at the Made on YouTube event in 2024, this feature includes a special button located beneath the “like” button and is available on videos from creators with less than 500,000 subscribers.

Presently, the feature is accessible in 39 countries, including the U.S., U.K., Japan, Korea, Indonesia, and India.

Fans can hype up to three videos each week for their chosen creators. This action awards points to the video, enhancing its visibility on a newly established leaderboard found within the Explore menu. YouTube has ensured that smaller creators will benefit more, providing a significant advantage to those with fewer subscribers when their videos are hyped.

Videos that receive this fan endorsement will display a “hyped” badge. Additionally, users can filter their YouTube Home feed to show only videos in the new “hyped” category. When a hyped video is close to entering the leaderboard, YouTube will alert users who contributed to its hype. Enthusiastic fans may also earn a new “hype star” badge monthly as recognition of their support.

The introduction of the Hype feature is meant to engage dedicated fans looking to participate in a creator’s journey. This development is also anticipated to create an additional revenue stream for YouTube, which plans to enable fans to purchase extra “hypes” for boosting their favored videos in the future.

In the coming months, YouTube intends to create hype leaderboards focused on specific categories, such as gaming and fashion, along with features enabling fans to share their recently hyped videos.

Creators will be able to track their hypes and hype points through the YouTube Studio mobile app, which will feature a new Hype card in their video analytics and provide insights in their weekly data reports.