YouTube is introducing a version of Shorts exclusively for members, enabling creators to share short-form videos solely with their subscribed paying audience. This new feature offers paying subscribers access to extra content in addition to their existing membership benefits, such as custom emojis, badges, livestreams, and more.
The introduction of Members Only Shorts on YouTube could attract viewers to sign up for a paid membership. According to YouTube, creators can utilize this new option to share special announcements, product releases, or limited-time offers. They can also use Members Only Shorts for Q&A sessions, behind-the-scenes glimpses, or previews of upcoming content.
This launch coincides with TikTok’s recent expansion of its subscription offering to more creators. Earlier this month, TikTok announced the renaming of its LIVE Subscription monetization tool to “Subscription,” extending it to non-LIVE creators. This expansion allows regular creators to post exclusive videos accessible only to paying subscribers.
After uploading a Short, creators can opt to make it available exclusively to their subscribers by selecting the new “members only” option under the “visibility” section. Additionally, creators can convert an existing Short to a members-only format. Furthermore, creators have the flexibility to schedule their Shorts to transition from members only to public, offering subscribers early access to content before it becomes accessible to everyone else.
YouTube encourages creators to maintain a casual and organic tone with these Shorts, likely to foster a sense of intimacy among subscribers, providing them with a closer look into the creator’s life and activities.
Members will find these exclusive short-form videos in the Shorts tab, Subscriptions feed, and on a creator’s channel. The exclusive content will be marked with a star icon, signifying that it’s exclusively available to paying subscribers.
According to YouTube’s announcement on Thursday, Shorts garners over 70 billion daily views, and more than 25% of channels in YouTube’s Partner Program monetize their videos through revenue-sharing on Shorts.
