Finally, the new “Hype” feature from YouTube is also available in Italy!
YouTube Hype is a system designed to help smaller channels grow and gain more visibility.
In this article we’ll look at how Hype works, what the requirements are to access the program, and some strategic considerations for using it.
What is YouTube Hype
As already mentioned, YouTube Hype was created exclusively to support small creators.
Each user has three free hypes per week, which they can assign to videos from other creators they appreciate, distributing them across a maximum of three pieces of content (or all on the same one, if they wish). Each hype assigns a score to the content, an aspect we’ll explore further below.
This way, videos accumulate points and compete with each other to enter the weekly ranking of the top 100 most “hyped” at a national level.
The ranking, which can also be filtered by content categories such as sports, music, or travel, offers users the opportunity to discover emerging creators they would otherwise have found difficult to encounter on YouTube. This top 100 is only available on mobile and can be found within the Explore section of the navigation bar.
How YouTube Hype works in detail
This feature can only be unlocked by channels that have between 500 and 500,000 subscribers and are part of the YouTube Partner Program, meaning with monetization already active.
The condition tied to monetization stems from the fact that, in the future, in addition to the three free weekly hypes, users will be able to purchase extra hypes: a portion of the proceeds will go directly to the creator.
Only videos published in the last seven days can be “hyped”. Currently, to assign a hype you need to use the mobile version: simply open the comments section, swipe left, and the option “Hype this video” will appear.
Since the range between 500 and 500,000 subscribers is very wide, YouTube uses a specific calculation to balance the scores. In practice, the larger a channel is and the closer it gets to the 500,000 subscriber limit, the fewer points will be earned with each individual hype.
For example, YouTube has stated that a channel with 500 subscribers can receive as many as 7,500 points from a single hype!
Under each video, in the description, the total number of hype points accumulated will be visible.
Not all content can receive hype: videos made for kids, private videos, unlisted videos, and Shorts are excluded. Live streams and premieres, however, can be “hyped,” but only once they’ve ended and been converted into regular videos.
Finally, every Monday at midnight the ranking is reset and users get their three free hypes back to distribute.
How to activate YouTube Hype
Now that we’ve seen what YouTube Hype is and how it works, all that’s left is to understand how to enable it.
To activate it, simply go to YouTube Studio, navigate to Settings → Channel → Advanced settings and enable the Hype feature.
The benefits of YouTube Hype
YouTube Hype represents an interesting opportunity for small creators, who often struggle to stand out on a platform dominated by large channels. In addition to likes, shares, and comments, there’s now a new form of appreciation that allows them to receive direct support from users and compete in a weekly national ranking, opening up new prospects for growth and visibility.
Of course, Hype doesn’t replace content quality, which remains the fundamental element for building a loyal audience. However, it can be a strategic tool to accelerate the growth journey, attract new viewers, and strengthen your presence on YouTube.
Ultimately, it’s worth activating this feature and experimenting with how to integrate it into your publishing strategy, making the most of every opportunity YouTube offers creators.
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