YouTube has long been the go-to platform for video content, but with millions of creators vying for attention, it can be incredibly difficult for new and smaller channels to get noticed. To address this, YouTube has introduced a new feature called “Hype,” a community-driven tool designed to give up-and-coming creators a much-needed visibility boost.
What is the Hype Button?
The Hype button is a new engagement feature that allows viewers to directly support emerging creators. Found right under the video player, it’s a dedicated button that, when clicked, gives the video “hype points.” These points are a way for viewers to signal their excitement and belief in a creator’s content.
How Does the Hype button Work?
The Hype button is specifically for channels with 500 to 500,000 subscribers and is available on videos published within the last seven days. Here’s a breakdown of how the system operates:
- Viewer Power: Viewers can “hype” up to three videos per week at no cost. This gives the community a direct hand in helping their favorite creators break through.
- The Hype Leaderboard: The videos with the most hype points each week are featured on a country-specific “Hype Leaderboard” found in the Explore tab. This is a new and powerful way for content to be discovered by a wider audience.
- Leveling the Playing Field: The Hype system includes a “small creator bonus.” This means a hype given to a channel with fewer subscribers is worth more points than a hype for a channel with a higher subscriber count. This weighted system ensures that truly small channels have a fair shot at competing for a spot on the leaderboard.
- Badges and Recognition: Videos that receive a significant amount of hype may get a special “hyped” badge, making them more noticeable across the platform. Dedicated fans can also earn their own “Hype Star” badge each month for being a top supporter of a channel.
- New Discovery Filters: To make it even easier for viewers to find hyped content, YouTube has added a “hyped” category to the Home feed, and is working on leaderboards for specific interests like gaming and style.
How do you activate the Hype button?
Your channel will be auto-enrolled in free hype with the option to disable. If you want to check to make sure you’re enrolled, go into your YouTube Studio.
- Log in to YouTube Studio on your desktop.
- Go to Settings.
- Select Channel and then Advanced Settings.
- Scroll down until you see the Hype option.
- Check the box that says “Let viewers hype my content.”
- Click Save.
Note that your channel must be eligible for the feature, meaning you need to be in the YouTube Partner Program and have between 500 and 500,000 subscribers. The Hype button only appears on long-form videos that are less than seven days old.
How to Hype a Video
Hype is designed to be quick and easy for viewers. Here’s how you can give a creator’s video a boost:
For Viewers
- Open the YouTube mobile app — the Hype feature is currently only available on mobile.
- Find an eligible video — it must be from a channel with 500–500,000 subscribers, be part of the YouTube Partner Program, and have been uploaded within the last seven days.
- Look for the Hype button — you’ll usually see it below the video player. If it’s not immediately visible, swipe left on the row of engagement buttons (like, dislike, share, etc.) until you find it.
- Tap the Hype button — confirm the number of points you’d like to send (this doesn’t cost money; viewers get up to three free hypes per week).
- That’s it! Your hype adds points toward the video, helping it rise on the Hype Leaderboard and get more visibility.
Things to Remember
The fewer subscribers a channel has, the more powerful each hype is, making your support especially impactful for smaller creators.
You only get three free hypes per week, so use them wisely on creators you truly want to support.
Hyping is anonymous—creators will see the total hype points, but not which individual fans sent them.
Where is it available?
The YouTube “Hype” button is now available in 39 countries. This is a recent expansion from its initial limited testing.
Some of the major markets where the feature is now live include: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Turkey, United Kingdom, and United States.
How do bonus points work?
The new Hype feature gives a boost to smaller channels. The fewer subscribers a creator has, the more powerful a single hype is for their video.
For example, a hype on a channel with:
- 500 subscribers is worth 7,500 points.
- 500,000 subscribers is only worth 50 points.
This system is designed to give a real advantage to emerging creators, helping to level the playing field against larger, more established channels.
What kind of problems could this have?
The YouTube “Hype” button is a new feature meant to help smaller creators get noticed, but it comes with some potential downsides. Here’s a breakdown of the problems it could have:
1. Potential for Abuse
- Gaming the System: People could use bots or multiple accounts to “hype” a video over and over, unfairly pushing it to the top of the leaderboard. This would go against the feature’s goal of supporting creators with genuine engagement.
- “Hype for Hype”: Creators and their fans might create a cycle of hyping each other’s videos, making the leaderboard less about quality and more about who has the most friends willing to click the button.
2. Confusing and Unclear
- What’s the Difference?: It’s not immediately clear how a “Hype” is different from a regular “Like.” This could make viewers unsure which button to use, and it might devalue the “Like” as a form of engagement.
- New Rules to Learn: The hype feature has its own rules (like a limit of three hypes per week per person). This adds another layer of complexity for users who are already familiar with a simple “like” and “dislike” system.
3. A Step Toward “Pay-to-Win”
The Future of Hype: YouTube has currently limited testing (Brazil, Turkey) for people to pay to use get more hypes. If this goes worldwide, it could create an uneven playing field. Creators with fans who are willing to pay would have a huge advantage, while others would be left behind, making it a “pay-to-win” system rather than one based on merit.
4. Loss of Personal Connection
Hypes are Anonymous: Unlike a comment or a public “like,” viewers can’t see who has hyped a video. This removes a personal element and the feeling of community that can come from seeing a friend or another fan support a video.
Why Hype Matters
The Hype feature represents a significant shift in YouTube’s approach to creator discovery. It moves beyond a purely algorithmic model and puts the power of promotion into the hands of the audience. By allowing fans to be part of a creator’s success story, YouTube is fostering a stronger sense of community and providing a new avenue for growth. For creators, it’s a direct way to see what content resonates most with their audience and can lead to increased views, watch time, and a greater opportunity to monetize their channel.
This new tool is a clear signal that YouTube is committed to helping its vast ecosystem of creators, and it will be interesting to see how the Hype button shapes the future of content discovery on the platform. If you want to learn other ways you can make your videos go viral, check out my article here.
FAQs
No. You can’t undo a hype at this time.
No, creators can’t see who hyped their videos at this time.
YouTube will send you notifications when your weekly recap of hyped videos is ready to view. Learn how to manage notifications.
Payment of hypes are non-refundable. You can view YouTube’s refund policies for more info.
Brand accounts can’t hype videos as viewers. Videos published by a brand account can be hyped though, as long as the account is in the YouTube Partner Program.
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