Here is how vertical livestreamers can make money with YouTube’s new feature

YouTube is rolling out a feature allowing creators to earn money during vertical livestreams.

Viewers can now purchase “Jewels,” YouTube’s digital currency, to send animated “gifts” that appear on-screen during these livestreams.

How does it work?

When viewers send gifts using Jewels, creators earn “Rubies,” with each Ruby valued at 1 cent. Creators can receive gifts only during vertical livestreams streamed directly on YouTube or via third-party streaming software.

Meanwhile, viewers can send these gifts exclusively through the YouTube mobile app. YouTube says this feature provides fans with a more engaging way to visually support their favorite live creators.

The concept is similar to TikTok’s live gifting feature, where viewers use “coins” to send gifts of varying monetary value to creators during livestreams.

YouTube jewels — (Image: socialmediatoday.com)

Eligibility

This feature is available to creators in the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) who accept the Virtual Items Module in YouTube Studio. Currently, it is limited to creators and viewers based in the United States.