YouTube Super Chat Tool Rolling Out To Creators Alex Wassabi, iHasCupquake And Great Library First Before Global Launch

YouTube is giving its creators another means of earning money while also giving fans a way to interact with YouTubers. The launch of this new tool comes amid the video-sharing platform’s decision to terminate its video monetization feature, called Fan Funding.

On Thursday, YouTube Product Manager Barbara Macdonald took to the YouTube Official Blog to announce Super Chat, a new tool that helps fans connect with creators during live streams. “We’re always trying to help creators share their stories, deepen relationships with their fans and succeed,” Macdonald wrote before introducing the tool.

From the fans’ perspective, Super Chat works once they have purchased a Super Chat during a live stream. A Super Chat is a highlighted message that appears in the chat stream. Once a fan has purchased a Super Chat, it appears on the thread conspicuously, so creators can see them first. The message remains pinned to the top of the thread for up to 5 hours, so fans will have more time to be noticed by YouTube stars.

On the creator’s end, Super Chat gives them the chance to notice their die-hard fans and strike conversations with them. In addition, this gives them another means of earning money within YouTube. In effect, this new tool is the realization of YouTube’s continuous efforts to help its creators generate income through its live stream feature.

Super Chat is slated for a global release soon. For now, it is available to select YouTubers, such as Alex Wassabi, iHasCupquake and Great Library (buzzbean11). On Jan. 31, YouTube will roll out the new tool to creators in 20 countries. On the same day, viewers in over 40 countries will have the ability to purchase Super Chat messages.

Meanwhile, YouTube is bidding its monetization feature Fan Funding goodbye this week. The feature previously enabled YouTubers to receive donations from fans during live chats and on their main channel page. The reason why the company axed Fun Funding was due to the low usage of the feature. Android Police says the changing algorithms of the platform pushed major creators to use services like Patreon instead.