YouTube is introducing a new “Live Q&A” feature that will allow creators to interact with viewers during live streams. When creators begin a Q&A, the prompt will appear in the chat as a pinned message.
Viewers can then submit questions, and creators can choose one to pin so that viewers know what the creator is responding to.
Previously, creators had to sort through a flood of questions submitted in the live chat.
The new feature will present questions in a more organized manner, making it easier for creators to manage. When you’re finished with the Q&A, you can return to the regular live chat.
“Live Q&A lets you create and manage Q&A sessions in live chat during your streams and Premieres right from Live Control Room (LCR),” YouTube said in a blog post.
“With Live Q&A you can more easily build community while replying to a series of on-topic questions written by your viewers. This option will appear alongside Live Polls, another great way for you to interact with those watching your stream.”
According to YouTube, questions are ordered chronologically, with the most recent ones at the top. Although there is no limit to the number of questions that can be submitted, the oldest ones on the list will be removed after 200 have been submitted.
The same systems that allow creators to moderate live chat manage questions submitted through Live Q&A.
Moderators cannot manage questions in Live Q&A, but users with Manager or Editor Channel permissions can manage the Q&A list, which means they can view the questions list, select questions to answer, and remove questions.
The new feature is being introduced as YouTube seeks to compete with Twitch and TikTok, the latter of which has its own dedicated Q&A feature for live streams.
YouTube has beefed up its live stream offering with new features as it focuses on competing with other platforms.
YouTube has a Super Thanks feature that allows viewers who want to express their appreciation for a video to pay creators one of four pre-set amounts ranging from $2 to $50.
The company also offers a Super Chat monetization feature, which allows creators to profit from their live streams. A Super Stickers feature is also available for fans who want to show their support and connect with their favorite creators.
Last week, YouTube announced that it is preparing to launch a new feature that will allow select creators to invite a guest to go live with them.
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