YouTube's new “Hype” button

A new way to support creators

YouTube has the Hype button rolled out worldwide. What started as an experiment is now available in dozens of countries and gives viewers a new way to give their favorite creators an extra boost. The feature is about engagement: you can “hype” three videos per week. This not only gives you a compliment, but also points that take into account the visibility of the video. The smaller the channel, the greater the bonus points that a Hype provides.

Videos that collect a lot of Hypes get a special badge and can even end up on a leaderboard in the Explore section. This way, smaller creators in particular get the chance to be discovered more quickly.

Who can use the Hype button?

Not every channel qualifies for Hype. You must be a member of the YouTube Partner Program and have between 500 and 500,000 subscribers. Also, only videos from the last seven days participate. Shorts, live streams, and content marked by Content ID fall by the wayside. In doing so, YouTube keeps the focus on recent, original videos.

For creators, a special Hype map also appears in the statistics in YouTube Studio. There, you can see exactly how many Hypes your video has received and how many points it has earned.

Why is Hype so important?

For creators, Hype mainly means extra visibility. The bonus points give smaller channels a fair chance to break into a platform that is often dominated by big names. Fans get the opportunity to do more than just like or comment, they can actively contribute to the success of a video.

The Hype button is also a smart move for YouTube itself. It's an extra signal to measure which videos really make an impact and what gets the community excited. In addition, it can strengthen competition with TikTok and Instagram, where community engagement has been key for some time.

Challenges and critical questions

Of course, Hype also involves discussion. There is a risk that creators will urge viewers to hype every video, which could cause it to lose its value. In addition, YouTube is testing with paid Hypes in some countries, which raises the question whether this will not lead to a “pay to win” system. And because only recent videos count, it can be harder for content that is slowly becoming popular to participate in the hype.

How do you use Hype as a creator?

The key lies in engagement. Naturally ask your community to hype a video if they find it valuable, and make sure your publishing strategy is strong. Consistent uploading and actively responding to your community increases the chances that your videos will build enough momentum in the first seven days. Use the new Hype statistics to analyse which videos rank well and learn from them before your next uploads.

Conclusion

The Hype button is a fresh addition to YouTube and an opportunity for smaller creators to gain visibility faster. It gives fans an extra way to show their support and puts community engagement at the center. For creators, this means a new challenge: not only creating good content, but also strengthening the relationship with your audience. The hype has officially started — the question is: are you going to use it?