YouTube unveils 'Hype' to boost smaller creators with leaderboards and community features

YouTube has introduced "Hype," a new feature aimed at promoting smaller creators by using a leaderboard system to highlight their videos. Positioned below the "like" button, the "Hype" button allows fans to boost content from creators with fewer than 500,000 subscribers. Fans are initially allowed to use "Hype" three times per week, with future plans to enable purchasing additional "hypes."

The Top 100 Hyped Videos leaderboard displays videos with the most "hypes," providing increased visibility. Smaller channels benefit from a bonus multiplier to compete more effectively with larger creators. Videos that make it to the top receive a special badge for recognition.

In addition to "Hype," YouTube is testing "Communities Hub," a feature different from regular comments that allows subscribers to engage in conversations and build stronger connections with creators. This space enables fans to interact and share interests beyond individual videos. YouTube is also enhancing its AI-powered Dream Screen for Shorts, making background generation more realistic. Furthermore, creators will soon be able to organize their videos into seasons and episodes, improving the viewing experience on larger TV screens.