World’s biggest video-sharing website, YouTube has introduced Super Chat – a brand new feature in its kitty. This will connect video makers to the fans as the latter will be permitted to pin their comment to top of a certain live stream. For a comment to stay on the top, a fan would be required to make a payment. As a result, he/she will stay on top to seek the attention of their beloved creators.
How does Super Chat work?
Official YouTube blogpost reads:
“Anybody watching a live stream can purchase a Super Chat: a highlighted message in the chat stream that stands out from the crowd to get even more of your favorite creator’s attention. And Super Chats remain pinned to the top of chat for up to 5 hours. Subsequently, it gives more airtime for your messages”
The amount of purchase determines the following three factors:
- Color of Super Chat
- The amount of time your comment stay on the top of the stream
- Length of the message
A user can pay to stay on the top after purchasing from either YouTube directly or through YouTube Gaming on a computer. Moreover, a user can also make a purchase in the Android app. It is pertinent to mention that iOS is currently not supporting the purchases.
Essentially, there are three benefits of Super Chat. At the outset, it will help fans to grab the attention of their favorite content creators. Secondly, video makers will get another tool to earn some extra bucks. Consequently, this shall drive creators towards producing more engaging content.
How To Make a Purchase?
Following steps will help you in making a super chat purchase:
- Choose the dollar ($) sign within a live chat (chat must be visible and mobile devices must be in portrait mode)
- Select send a Super Chat
- To handpick an amount, you may either drag the slide or type your preferred sum
- Enter your message (it is optional)
- You need to select buy and send
- Follow all the instructions to complete your purchase
Once you make a purchase, all the viewers will be sent your public Super Chat in a live chat. In addition, a receipt would be sent to your email as a record of the purchase.
It is worth mentioning that Super Chats are non-refundable. When you get a Super Chat, a countdown ticker will start running which will exhibit the remaining time your Super Chat will be pinned to the top. It is entirely up to the creator of the video to end the video stream anytime he/she likes. If the creator closes the stream before your remaining time ends, then Super Chat will not be transferred to any other stream.
Also Read: YouTube monetization gets enabled in Pakistan
Fan Funding Phased Out
In 2014, YouTube allowed the viewers by giving them a platform to support content creators directly by launching Fan Funding. However, it did not create as much buzz as YouTube would have liked. Consequently, YouTube has phased it out and launched Super Chat as its replacement.
Before rolling out this brand new feature, YouTube will test it with few creators. Super Chat is expected to go live from 31st January.
Do you think this feature will bridge the gap between the creators and fans on YouTube? What kind of video genres, you think, can benefit the most from this new feature?
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