What Is YouTube’s "Hype" Feature?
Imagine a way to help your favorite small creators stand out—not just by liking or sharing, but by actively supporting them. That’s exactly what YouTube's “Hype” feature does.
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| Visual representation of Hype from the presentation |
Why it exists: YouTube designed Hype to help creators with fewer than 500,000 subscribers get discovered, especially in the first 7 days after they upload a video.
How it works: Fans can "Hype" up to three videos per week, free of charge. The fewer subscribers the creator has, the more bonus points their video earns per hype—this helps level the playing field.
Leaderboard & badges: Hyped videos are ranked in a Top 100 weekly leaderboard (specific to each country), often featured under the Explore tab. Videos also get a visible “Hyped” badge to highlight fan favorites.
Extra perks for fans: Fans will receive notifications when a video they hyped is close to making the leaderboard, and the most engaged fans can earn a monthly “Hype Star” badge.
Tools for creators: Creators gain new data insights—a dedicated Hype card and weekly hype recap within YouTube Studio (mobile) so they can track performance.
Paid Hypes (coming soon): YouTube is testing paid hypes in Brazil and Turkey, where fans can pay for extra hype boosts—and creators can earn revenue from them.
YouTube’s Official Statement
YouTube described Hype on its official blog:
“Hyping is all about helping emerging YouTube channels grow by connecting them with new audiences. If a video's been out less than 7 days from a creator with under 500,000 subscribers, you can ‘hype’ it… Anybody can hype up to three times per week. … To level the playing field, YouTube even weights hypes for smaller channels more heavily.”
They also emphasized:
* The 7-day eligibility window and viewer limit of three hypes per week.
* Introduction of points and a weekly leaderboard to help creators reach wider audiences.
* The small-creator bonus through point multipliers.
* That hyping doesn’t affect YouTube recommendations or search results, ensuring it’s a fan-driven boost, not algorithm manipulation.
How Is the Feature Being Received?
Media Highlights
* The Verge highlighted that Hype is a smart way to help smaller creators shine—not via algorithms, but through direct fan engagement.
* Reports from various outlets confirm the feature is now available in 39 countries, including India, USA, UK, Japan, Indonesia, and more. The update includes:
* A Hype button below videos.
* Hyped badges and Home feed filtering.
* Notifications and Hype Star badges for fans.
* Tools for creators in the Studio app.
From Viewers & Creators (Reddit)
Some early community reactions from Reddit:
“The difference is that 'Hype' has a designated leaderboard… creators have a new feature where they can be found.”
“Yo, that sounds like such a grind for no reward. It’s wild how they hype up these features, but then they just flop. Like, what’s the point if it doesn’t actually help boost anything, right?”
These comments reflect mixed opinions—creators appreciate the visibility, but some question the real impact without targeted discovery filters.
Final Thoughts: Is Hype Worth It?
Yes—a lot of promise, if used well.
1. For Fans: Hype lets you be part of a creator's growth journey and feel connected to their success. Plus, you earn badges and notifications—a fun bonus.
2. For Creators: Hype offers a unique, fan-powered path for exposure—especially vital in the first week after publishing.
3. Balance Matters: The small-creator bonus helps, but broader adoption and future category-based leaderboards (e.g., gaming, music) will make it even more effective.
4. Watch for Monetization: Paid hype is in testing—this may benefit creators financially but could also shift the dynamics. It’s worth keeping an eye on.
