YouTube recently launched YouTube Communities, a new, potentially game-changing addition aimed at changing the way creators and fans interact with each other on YouTube.

YouTube Communities is a further step toward YouTube being a social platform in its own right. This new space allows for deeper connections, transforming the platform into a more social environment similar to Discord, Facebook, and Instagram. In this blog post, we’ll explore how YouTube Communities work, what they mean for creators, and how creators can engage their audiences more effectively (to avoid their own YouTube Community from going off the rails).

Table of Contents

• What Are YouTube Communities?
• How YouTube Communities Work
• Examples of YouTube Communities in Action
• What This Means for Creators
• Future Plans for YouTube Communities
• Comparison with Discord
• Conclusion
• FAQs about YouTube Communities

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What Are YouTube Communities?

YouTube Communities are a new feature that allows subscribers to start conversations revolving around the content shared by their favorite creators. Unlike the previous community tab, which only allowed creators to post, this new feature enables viewers to post, react, and comment on content, making for a more interactive environment.

The idea, which we heard more about while attending Made on YouTube 2024, is the result of collaboration with a group of creators who wanted better ways to connect with their audiences. In response, YouTube is evolving community interaction on the platform. It has the potential to turn YouTube into a full-fledged social media hub. It also promises to keep people on the platform for longer, which is always YouTube’s goal.

How YouTube Communities Work

YouTube Communities function similarly to social media platforms by allowing users to create and engage in discussions. Subscribers can post content, react to others’ posts, and comment on shared experiences. This kind of interaction builds community among fans, potentially making them feel more connected to both the creators and each other.

For instance, in a fitness channel’s community, members might share their personal fitness journeys and progress pictures on YouTube instead of Instagram. Similarly, cooking communities encourage fans to experiment with new recipes and showcase their culinary creations. Gaming communities thrive on discussions about the latest games and memes, creating a vibrant atmosphere for fans to bond over shared interests.

Examples of YouTube Communities in Action

With the introduction of YouTube Communities, various creators are already using this feature to engage their audiences. Some notable examples include:

• Fitness Channels: Women share their fitness journeys and post progress pictures, motivating each other.
• Cooking Channels: Fans challenge one another to try new recipes and share photos of their culinary masterpieces.
• Gaming Channels: Gamers discuss their favorite games and share funny memes related to various characters.

Communities can facilitate meaningful interactions among fans, turning passive viewers into active participants in the content ecosystem.

As the comments on the video embedded above attest, Communities can also go a bit off the rails if creators aren’t careful.

What This Means for Creators

The launch of YouTube Communities signifies a shift in how creators can engage with their audiences. By providing a dedicated space for discussions, creators can foster a loyal community that feels connected to their content. This not only enhances viewer retention but also encourages fans to share their experiences and promote the channel organically.

Moreover, the new feature allows creators to earn insights into what their audience enjoys, enabling them to tailor their content accordingly. Engaging directly with fans through comments and posts can lead to more personalized content, creating a feedback loop that benefits both creators and viewers.

Future Plans for YouTube Communities

Currently, YouTube Communities are available only to select channels, and users may need to wait until later this year or early 2025 to access this feature fully. As the new Communities feature is refined, creators can expect more tools and functionality to enhance engagement on YouTube.

For example, there are ongoing discussions about integrating additional features that allow for better moderation and content sharing, ensuring that creators can manage their communities effectively.

Comparison with Discord

YouTube Communities is fairly compared with Discord, a platform known for its community-centric design. While Discord allows for real-time conversations and has a strong focus on gaming, YouTube Communities provide a more structured environment where creators can manage discussions around their content. This makes YouTube Communities a compelling option for creators looking to build a dedicated fanbase without needing to redirect their audience to another platform.

Conclusion

YouTube Communities are set to revolutionize how creators interact with their fans. By fostering deeper connections and encouraging active participation, this feature has the potential to enhance audience engagement significantly. As creators adapt to this new environment, those who put YouTube Communities to good use can expect to reap the rewards. Especially those creators who adopt early.

FAQs about YouTube Communities

What are YouTube Communities?

YouTube Communities are a space linked to a creator’s channel where subscribers can post content, react, and comment on discussions related to the creator’s content.

How do YouTube Communities compare to Discord?

While Discord is designed for real-time conversations, YouTube Communities provide a structured environment focused on content-related discussions, making it easier for creators to manage their interactions with fans.

Are YouTube Communities available to all creators?

Currently, YouTube Communities are only available to selected channels. YouTube says more creators will gain access in early 2025.

How can creators benefit from YouTube Communities?

Creators can enhance audience engagement, gain insights into viewer preferences, and foster a loyal community around their content.

For more tips on engaging your audience and growing your YouTube channel, check out the TubeBuddy blog.

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Did YouTube Launch THIS New Feature to Replace Discord? – Video Transcript

[00:00] What if there was a place for tens of millions of people to talk and hang out with their favorite creators, communities, and friends?
[00:07] A space where creators could talk directly with their fans.
[00:11] That’s Discord.
[00:12] That is exactly what Discord is because I looked it up and I stole the lines from the website.
[00:17] But it’s also what the YouTube CEO just announced coming to YouTube starting now.
[00:23] They’re calling it communities.
[00:25] So this all started when YouTube went to a group of creators to learn about what they like, they dislike, and what they wanted to come to YouTube.
[00:31] And a lot of them talked about wanting more ways to connect deeply with their audience.
[00:36] That’s why YouTube is adding communities.
[00:38] This is a new space linked from the creator’s channel where subscribers can start conversations that revolve around the content that you share.
[00:45] Viewers can post, react, and comment on things from other fans.
[00:49] This is replacing the old community tab that only the creator could post on, and this is starting to turn YouTube into a full fledged social media platform.
[00:58] It works kind of like Instagram, Facebook, or, I mean, really, Discord.
[01:02] Now here’s some examples of this.
[01:04] Yo.
[01:05] Real quickly.
[01:05] There’s, like, so many of you who are not subscribed to this channel, and my goal is to hit a million here.
[01:11] You could do me a huge solid just by hitting the subscribe button right now.
[01:15] Okay.
[01:15] Sorry.
[01:16] Now back to the video.
[01:17] Here’s some examples.
[01:18] Women in this fitness channel’s community are sharing their personal journeys and posting progress pictures with a YouTuber.
[01:24] While this creator’s cooking community challenged his fans to try new recipes, and they’re going crazy sharing photos of their masterpieces, this gaming community has fans talking about the games they’re playing and fun memes about different characters.
[01:38] Now this is a pretty interesting update to me, but I really want to hear what you guys think in the comments below.
[01:44] For now, this is only on a select group of channels.
[01:47] All of those channels that I mentioned in those examples, you can literally go to their page right now and see this.
[01:52] It’s only been working for me on mobile.
[01:54] I’m sure it’s gonna come to desktop soon, but if you want to have this for your channel, you’re going to have to wait until later this year or possibly even early twenty twenty five.
[02:04] Now there is a feature that just came out, and it’s three minute YouTube shorts.
[02:07] And there’s just there’s so much to talk about.
[02:09] This is very controversial, and we talk about it in this video here.
[02:13] Go check it out there.
[02:14] I’ll see you over there.
[02:15] I love you.
[02:16] Please subscribe.
[02:17] Like, I’m doing you like bro.
[02:18] Like, please.
[02:19] Please subscribe.
[02:21] I’ll see you over there.