YouTube will now delay livestream ads during peak chat engagement to “protect the vibe”

YouTube has launched four updates to boost user engagement for creators and viewers on YouTube Live. The platform now detects peak activity in live chats and automatically delays advertising, ensuring active community discussions continue without disruption. Following this, YouTube has enabled viewers to send gifts from their mobile devices in both horizontal and vertical livestreams, expanding this feature to creators in Canada, Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia, and New Zealand. The company plans to support additional countries and is developing region-specific gifts for local holidays and events.

In a move to further encourage real-time support, YouTube now grants a brief ad-free period for users immediately after they send super chats, super stickers, or gifts. This allows creators to thank supporters without the moment being interrupted by ads, applying automatically for streams with ads enabled. Building on multi-format accessibility, creators can simultaneously broadcast in vertical and horizontal views, uniting all participants in a single chat. YouTube is also preparing new customization features such as vertical cropping layouts in Live Studio and multiple stream keys, which will eventually allow for distinct, customized feeds for each stream format.