(WS News) – YouTube is launching a new gifting feature during livestreams, allowing viewers to purchase “jewels” and send them as gifts to their favorite creators.
The feature, announced at September’s *Made on YouTube* event, is gradually rolling out in the United States for eligible creators within the YouTube Partner Program.
Similar to TikTok’s gifting system, which uses “coins” to send gifts, YouTube’s version lets users purchase jewels that appear onscreen during livestreams.
These jewels contribute to a creator’s earnings in the form of “rubies,” each valued at one cent. However, YouTube has noted that the exact amount of rubies earned can fluctuate, as the price of jewels may change based on ongoing promotions.
To incentivise creators, YouTube is offering a bonus of up to 50% on earnings for the next three months, with eligible creators able to earn an additional $1,000 per month.
