Posting comments onto a popular live stream can be a fruitless activity, with conversations moving so fast no one has time to see your message. Good news for those of you who want the attention: you can now pay to highlight comments and pin them to the top of live YouTube videos.
Press the new dollar bill button next to the text box and you’ll be able to move a slider that determines the length your comment will be pinned, as well as the price you pay. Super Chats are highlighted in bright colors and big text, and can be pinned for up to 5 hours.
Really though, it’s less for the commenters and more for the streamers. It’s an easy way for them to make a bit of extra cash from their biggest fans.
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Of course, there’s the matter of web hooligans; just think of the damage bratty rich kids can do. And though YouTube says you’ll be able to ban certain words or users, trolls have been getting around filters since the dawn of time. It’s bad enough policing a live stream when the comments are only visible for a fraction of a second.
Super Chat is rolling out in beta today for a select few creators, and will be available for creators in 20 countries (and viewers in 40 countries) starting January 31.
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