YouTube has rolled out “gift goals,” a new feature that expands its existing goals functionality to vertical livestreams. The feature allows creators to set specific donation targets within designated timeframes, creating incentives for viewers to contribute.

“Creators in the experiment will be able to set a target gift amount and pick a timeframe to achieve the goal before sharing it with their viewers,” YouTube states in its official announcement. “With gift goals, creators get a new way to engage with their audience and build community.”

The initial test phase is limited to vertical livestreams on mobile devices for creators in the United States. YouTube has not provided specific dates for wider availability, but indicates plans for future expansion.

According to Social Media Today, this development follows YouTube’s introduction of Super Chat goals last year, which allowed streamers to establish engagement targets and rewards. The gift goals feature extends this concept to a broader creator base.

YouTube is simultaneously testing additional engagement features, including a leaderboard that ranks viewers based on their participation. These tools collectively incentivize competitive donations among viewers.

Broader Monetization Strategy

Gift goals joins YouTube’s growing suite of livestream monetization tools. The platform recently launched “Jewels,” a digital gifting system that enables viewers to purchase gifts for creators during vertical livestreams. The Jewels system converts viewer contributions into “Rubies” that creators can redeem at a rate of one cent per Ruby.

For eligible participants in the Jewels program, YouTube offers a 50% bonus on gift earnings for the first three months, with a monthly cap of $1,000.

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