I ran across this “thanks” button for the first time. YouTube is calling it the “Super Thanks” button, and it is supporting what I’ve been saying for a while. I’ve talked previously about the accrued rewards in modern browsers (and crypto currency) and how that accrual will be used to pay content creators in ways of “tips”. This is a new way to monetize creators and you as the user gets to choose who gets paid and how much.
Now YouTube has offered a way to tip content creators with this new “super thanks” button. It’s an easy way for the viewer to give money to the author. Why? Why would you pay for content that is free? Well, you won’t always pay, but based on a “if you build it they will come” mentality, it will work. Not every viewer will pay, but some viewers will, especially if you move your audience. Having some viewers tip is better than having 0 viewers tip.
We are seeing this model more and more, just like I predicted a while ago. My experience with Burning Man first taught me the art of giving. This lends itself easily to offering content for free with no monetization demands, but if the viewer is delighted with your content and finds value, *someone* will hit the tip button. Delight enough people and you will have more *someones* hitting the tip button. It will add up.
Paying for content is not new. Look at the Patreon subscription model.
Here is more information from Google on the new Super Thanks. As you might have guessed, you have to be monetized to access this beta feature, which means a minimum of 1,000 subscribers and 4000 watch hours in the past 12 months. Well we know that leaves me out! For now!
