July 16, 2025
YouTube has rolled out a new Hype feature in India, and it’s made specifically for small creators trying to get discovered on Shorts. This feature gives your audience a way to directly support your content or YouTube video. Which could lead to a massive visibility boost even if your videos haven’t gone viral yet.
While watching Shorts, some viewers will now see a Hype button on the screen. If they tap it, they’re basically saying “this creator deserves more reach.” When enough viewers support a creator through this Hype button, YouTube will boost that creator content in the Shorts feed giving them a chance to be discovered by a much wider audience.
This isn’t tied to subscriber count or views. It’s based purely on Hype points which reflect how many users have backed a creator using the Hype feature during a specific time window. The more points you collect, the more likely your videos are to get algorithmically promoted.
India, with its 500 million+ monthly YouTube users, is flooded with fresh content every day. From food vloggers in tier-2 cities to comedy channels in regional languages everyone fighting to get seen. But cracking the Shorts algorithm has always been tricky, especially for creators without big budgets or viral momentum.
Now with Hype points, discovery isn’t just about performance metrics it’s about real audience support. Viewers are no longer passive scrollers. They get to play a role in deciding who deserves to trend.
For creators, this means one thing, you can now grow faster. If your content truly connects, even on a small scale. A few loyal viewers hitting that Hype button can push your Shorts into hundreds or thousands of new feeds. And if you’re consistent, that window could lead to long-term growth.
YouTube confirmed that the goal is to help creators who are “growing but not yet widely known.” This experiment is starting in India, and depending on how users respond especially to the Hype button influence and how Hype points are earned the platform might scale this feature globally.
Right now, the Hype button appears on certain Shorts as a small prompt usually near the like or share icons. It doesn’t cost anything, and viewers can use it to show support for creators who might otherwise get buried under the algorithm.
YouTube hasn’t revealed exactly how many Hype points are needed for a boost, or how long the promotional period lasts. But early reports suggest that creators getting frequent Hype support may see a significant jump in views and subscriber growth especially if they post consistently and interact with their audience.
If you’re a viewer, using the YouTube Hype button is one of the simplest ways to promote the creators you genuinely enjoy even if they’re just getting started. If you’re a creator, this is your shot to grow without paying for ads or chasing trends.
The Hype feature shows that YouTube is serious about community-driven discovery. While platforms like Instagram Reels and TikTok focus heavily on algorithmic randomness, YouTube is experimenting with a more intentional, audience-backed growth system. So whether you’re a rising creator posting Shorts in Hindi, Malayalam, or Hinglish or just someone who wants to support underdog channels the YouTube Hype feature is worth paying attention to.
Creators don’t need to wait for luck anymore. If your content resonates, and if your audience hits that Hype button the platform will back you up.
