Tech Desk 
Nov 14, 2024
YouTube is set to launch a new way for creators to earn money during vertical livestreams. Viewers can now purchase “Jewels,” a digital currency, to send “gifts” to creators. Gifts are animations that are displayed on screen during vertical livestreams.
This feature is similar to TikTok’s live gifting feature, allowing viewers to buy “coins” to send gifts, of a particular monetary value, to support live creators during their streams.
When viewers use Jewels to send gifts on YouTube, creators are set to receive “Rubies.” Creators receive 1 cent for each Ruby, which results in creators getting $1 for 100 Rubies.
As the price for Jewels on YouTube can vary based on different bundle options, there isn’t a fixed effective revenue share, which means the amount of Rubies earned can vary.
Read more: YouTube testing TikTok-like swipe-up gestures for horizontal videos
The video-sharing platform has confirmed that for the next three months, eligible creators can get a 50% bonus on their gifts’ earnings, up to $1,000 per month, in addition to their regular earnings from Rubies.
However, it is important to note that creators can only get gifts when they stream vertically directly on YouTube or with third-party streaming software.
Meanwhile, YouTube has allowed viewers to support livestreamers through “Super Stickers” in the chat tab, this new feature is a direct response to the popularity of gifts on TikTok Lives.
YouTube indicated that once an eligible creator turns on gifts on their vertical livestreams, they will no longer have access to "Super Stickers". The platform believes gifts provide viewers a better way to visually support their favourite live creators.
Notably, the new monetisation option is set to be rolled out to eligible creators in the United States (US) over the next few weeks.
