YouTube already offers several visibility options for videos, including Private, Public, Unlisted, and Scheduled. The platform is now testing a new ‘Top fans’ option that would limit viewing (and commenting) to the top 1% of a channel’s most engaged viewers.
Do note that the feature is different from channel memberships, which make videos exclusive to channel members (who pay a monthly subscription fee). Even with the direct video link, others wouldn’t be able to access the video.
Users who noticed the new option posted about it on X and Reddit. The feature is presently marked as “Beta,” so it’s not live for everyone. The feature is presently marked as “Beta,” so it’s not live for everyone. YouTube is seemingly testing the waters before a wider release.
Reactions are harshly split between calling the feature an interesting idea and a horrible one. People feel that it gatekeeps content to a few people, and might incentivize further clickbait on the platform.
Theoretically, people might disingenuously engage with content in an attempt to enter the creator’s top 1%. Video uploaders also have options to alter the thumbnails and titles, so there are several concerns with this idea at the moment.
Engagement determination metrics were also questioned, since YouTube didn’t specify what the top 1% exactly means. Users are concerned about mass commenters getting a priority over genuine, regular viewers who rarely comment on videos.
Others suggested adding an adjustable toggle for the percentages, so the creator can set anywhere between 1% and 50%, for example.
The memberships feature already exists to cater to the part of the fanbase that’s willing to pay money. Getting only 1% of top viewers on a video would also barely make any ad revenue, so creators would probably make videos live for the ‘top fans’ first, and then release them to the public.
It’s worth noting that YouTube hasn’t officially announced this feature on their socials or blogs. A limited number of posts on social media are the only sources at the moment.
In other YouTube news, the team is experimenting with new home feed navigation, AI comment search, and more. You can read about that here.
Featured image credit: @PinaPengin/X
Sudhanshu K
81 Posts
I have been a consumer technology enthusiast for over 5 years. Thanks to my experience in software beta testing and product reviews, I've understood and learnt a lot about what bugs and issues bother people, and I spend time trying to simplify their solutions. I cover smartphones, software, social media, apps, AI, and most consumer tech gadgets. Actively pursuing a Computer Science bachelor’s degree. I'm mostly active on Twitter/X (@TechWhirlUlt), drop a DM or tag me if you want to share info or connect!
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