YouTube is rolling out a special version of Shorts designed exclusively for members, enabling creators to share short-form videos solely with their paying audience. This new feature offers paying subscribers access to bonus content in addition to their existing membership benefits, such as custom emojis, badges, livestreams, and more.
The introduction of Members Only Shorts on YouTube aims to attract viewers to subscribe to paid memberships. According to YouTube, creators can utilize this feature to unveil special announcements, product releases, or limited-time offers. Moreover, creators have the flexibility to use Members Only Shorts for activities like Q&As, behind-the-scenes insights, or previews of upcoming content.
This initiative coincides with TikTok’s recent expansion of its subscription feature to a broader range of creators. TikTok’s LIVE Subscription monetization tool, now renamed to “Subscription,” will soon extend to non-LIVE creators, allowing them to share exclusive videos accessible only to paying subscribers.
Upon uploading a Short, creators can opt to restrict it to subscribers by selecting the new “members only” option in the “visibility” section. They can also designate an existing Short as exclusive to members. Additionally, creators can schedule Shorts to transition from members-only to public, granting subscribers early access to content before its public release.
YouTube encourages creators to maintain a relaxed and authentic tone in these Shorts, aiming to provide subscribers with a more intimate glimpse into their lives and activities. Subscribers will discover these exclusive short-form videos in the Shorts tab, Subscriptions feed, and on the creator’s channel, marked with a star icon to signify their exclusive status.
According to YouTube’s announcement on Thursday, Shorts garners over 70 billion daily views, with over 25% of channels in the YouTube Partner Program generating revenue through Shorts’ revenue-sharing feature.
