YouTube now allows producers to earn money in a new way: Super Thanks is a feature that will enable viewers to donate money to their favorite channels. It’s similar to a permanent tip jar that appears on all of a creator’s videos.
YouTube had been beta-testing the function (formerly known as “applause”) for several months before settling on the term “Super Thanks.” It’s extending to “thousands” of new producers starting this week, and it’ll be available in 68 countries on desktop and mobile devices running Android and iOS. By the end of 2021, all eligible YouTube Partner Program participants will be able to use Super Thanks, according to YouTube.
Users will have the option of donating money to creators in four different quantities (which vary by market). These are $2, $5, $10, and $50 in the United States.
Fans who purchase a Super Thanks item will see an animated GIF (e.g., balloons flying up their screen) as well as a highlighted comment with their gift amount posted to the comments section, where creators can respond.
The revenue produced through Super Thanks tips will be split 30 percent with YouTube. The same percentage applies to YouTube’s three other paid digital products: Super Chat (initially introduced in 2017 to allow viewers to purchase emoji to send to live streamers), Super Stickers (produced animated stickers for live streams), and channel memberships (which let YouTubers sell subscription plans with access to exclusive content and other perks).
“Super Thanks does double duty for artists, just like Super Chat and Super Stickers, by keeping their connections with (super) fans relevant while simultaneously providing them a new option to make money,” said Neal Mohan, YouTube’s chief product officer, in a blog post.
Nicholas Ashbaugh, a “psychic intuitive” YouTube creator who says tips now account for about 15% of his business, is one of Super Thanks beta-testers. In a statement given by Google, he stated, “Having a built-in feature like Super Thanks means that my fans can show their love and support while watching a video — without disrupting their viewing.”
According to Barbara Macdonald, YouTube product lead for premium digital goods, YouTube explored the name “Super Applause”. Still, it concluded that “Super Thanks” better suited the expression of thanks by fans based on creative input.