YouTube’s latest feature is here to boost small creators—and it’s already getting noticed.
YouTube has rolled out a new feature called Hype, aimed specifically at helping creators with 500 to 500,000 subscribers gain more visibility on the platform. In this digital space where it’s hard to stand out, this tool allows viewers to directly support emerging creators and push their videos up the ranks.

What Is the Hype Feature?

The Hype feature is made for creators with 500 to 500,000 subscribers, offering viewers a fresh way to support rising talent. Eligible videos will display a Hype button beneath them, allowing users to award Hype points that boost the video’s visibility.
As videos earn Hype points, they climb the Top 100 leaderboard, which can be found under YouTube’s Explore tab. To level the playing field, YouTube gives extra points to channels with fewer subscribers, giving smaller creators a valuable edge over more established ones.

Who Is Eligible?

• Channels must have between 500 and 500,000 subscribers.
• Eligible channels will have the Hype feature enabled automatically—no setup needed.
• Videos must be no more than 7 days old to receive Hype.

Viewers can Hype up to three videos per week for free. The Hype button appears just below the Like button on qualifying videos. This offers a simple but powerful way for audiences to support up-and-coming content creators. By actively engaging with the Hype system, fans become part of a creator’s growth journey. The higher the rank, the greater the chance of the video being featured on the YouTube homepage. The Top 100 Hyped Videos tab will appear under the Explore section on YouTube.

How Does Hyping a YouTube Video Work?

1. Upload Your Video: After you upload a video, it becomes eligible for hype for the first 7 days. When viewers hit the “Like” button during this time, they’ll also see an option to “Hype” your video. If they do, the video instantly earns Hype points.
2. Let Fans Show Their Support: Hype gives your viewers a fun way to support your new content and tell others it’s worth watching. Videos that get the most Hype points each week appear on a leaderboard showing the top hyped videos from viewers in that country.
3. Reach More People: Videos with high Hype scores might also get featured around YouTube with a special “Hyped” badge during their first 7 days. Viewers can Hype a video for free, a limited number of times, or pay to Hype it more (where available). This helps your channel grow and reach more new fans.

So, is the YouTube Hype feature a milestone? For many emerging creators—absolutely. By satisfying early audience support and spotlighting fresh voices, Hype gives smaller channels a fighting chance on a competitive platform.
For viewers, it’s a chance to be part of a creator’s rise and shape the content culture they want to see more of. While it doesn’t solve every issue with content discovery on YouTube, it’s a strong step in the right direction. And if used wisely, alongside quality content, engagement, and consistency, it could be the lift that many talented creators have been waiting for.