YouTube Introduces Super Chat, Phases Out Fan Funding

YouTube Thursday announced the launch of Super Chat, a way for users to purchase highlighted mentions during livestreams in the hopes of attracting the attention of the Creators of those livestreams.

Product manager Barbara Macdonald said in a blog post that Super Chats remain pinned to the top of chats on livestreams for up to five hours, adding:

For Creators, this means Super Chat does double duty: keeping their conversations and connections with (super) fans meaningful and lively, while also giving Creators a new way to make money.