YouTube has been actively testing new features recently, focusing on enhancing user interaction. Last month, the platform introduced a revamped miniplayer design for Android, and now it is shifting its attention to improving audience engagement during live streams through the introduction of a leaderboard. This new feature allows live stream viewers to see their ranking on an engagement leaderboard for the channels they follow. According to YouTube’s announcement, the leaderboard showcases the top 50 most engaged viewers for particular channels.

This innovation adds a layer of gamification to live streaming; participants can earn points based on their level of engagement, which includes commenting and sending super chats during the stream. Users can easily track their earned points via a crown icon located at the top of the live chat. While it is not yet clear if certain types of engagement will yield more points, viewers can check their leaderboard ranking by clicking the crown icon. Additionally, those who place within the top three may receive a badge, prominently displayed next to their usernames during live streams.

YouTube recognizes that not all viewers may wish to have their names publicly displayed on the leaderboard. For those individuals, opting out of the experiment is straightforward. Users can do this by navigating to YouTube Settings and selecting the option to “Turn off leaderboard participation.”

Currently, this leaderboard feature is being tested with a small group of users, with plans for a broader rollout in the future. This announcement follows closely on the heels of YouTube’s integration of Google Lens into YouTube Shorts, further enhancing the platform’s capabilities for user interaction and engagement.