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Washington: YouTube announced a new update aimed at improving the live streaming experience by reducing the display of ads during moments of high interaction, in order to maintain the lively atmosphere between viewers and content creators.
The platform, owned by Google, explained in an official blog post that it will automatically pause ads when it notices a significant increase in interaction within the live chat, such as a surge in messages or increased support from the audience.
According to the company, this update aims to enable content creators to maintain uninterrupted broadcasting momentum, especially during critical moments that witness widespread public engagement.
In turn, users who support features such as Super Chat and Super Stickers or digital gifts will get an ad-free experience for a short period immediately after the purchase, as an immediate reward for their support.
YouTube also revealed that it is expanding its gifting tools to include more countries, including Canada, Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia, and New Zealand, which enhances opportunities to monetize live streaming globally.
Users can now also send GIF images within horizontal broadcasts via smartphones, after this feature was previously limited to vertical broadcasts only.
In another move reflecting the platform's focus on flexibility, content creators can now broadcast in both vertical and horizontal modes simultaneously, while uniting all viewers within a single chat.
These updates come at a time when live streaming consumption on large screens is experiencing remarkable growth, with the company indicating that more than 30% of live streaming viewing time in the US during 2025 came via internet-connected televisions.
These changes come days after YouTube raised its premium subscription prices in the US, a move that reflects the platform's efforts to strike a balance between improving user experience and boosting revenue.
