YouTube is to roll out a new "Jewels" creator donation feature where viewers will be able to purchase digital stickers they may apply during their live streams, where a percentage of the sticker's purchase price will then be remitted to the streamer. Eligible live streams can be purchased with Jewels by the viewers, which the former will then have the option to use and buy animated stickers.

It's more or less the same case with YouTube's Super Chat sticker and comment options, with Jewels offering more options when it comes to purchase.

YouTube has this to say:

"'Gifts' are interactive animations viewers can post to your vertical live streams, where they'll appear live. Jewels allow for real-time engagement with bundle purchases, doing away with having to buy more each time viewers want to express themselves in the moment and send a gift.".

So it will give viewers another method of showing appreciation and actually donating real money to the live-streamers.

Now, this does get a little confusing on the aspect of monetization.

"So then, when viewers use Jewels to send gifts, you get Rubies – which stand for your earnings. 1 Ruby = 1 cent. So for every 100 Rubies you receive, you get $1!"

So there are Jewels, which you guys buy, and Rubies, which you get. And one Ruby equals 1 cent. You with me so far?

The more confusing part is that the creator cut varies:

The amount a user pays for Jewels depends on the bundles that they purchase and on the viewer promotions that we may be running at any given time. So, there isn't the effective revenue share where we have fixed prices in the way that we do for other features like Super Chats & channel memberships, for example.

So how many Rubies will you earn for each Jewel-purchased sticker applied within your stream? We don't know, and YouTube doesn't either, because it will all be relative to the package of Jewels that the viewer purchased at the time.

Makes sense?

Yes, it's not really clear, and separating "Jewels" and "Rubies" doesn't make it a heap clearer. However, in simple terms, viewers will be able to donate in a new method while they're able to live-stream, and should they apply these stickers to your stream you'll gain some form of money for each of them.

It had earlier announced Jewels at the event Made On, back in September and has been working on the backend processes that would result in the seamless roll-out of the option.

Jewels will initially be restricted to US channels, and all eligible creators across the United States, who are part of the YouTube Partner Program (YPP), shall get access in a couple of weeks going forward.
"This also means only U.S. viewers can currently buy Jewels and send gifts, but everyone will be able to see the gifts sent during the live stream. Viewers will only be able to buy Jewels and send gifts on vertical live streams on the YouTube mobile app, but you can receive gifts if you stream vertically directly on YouTube or through third-party streaming software."

So, more monetization options for live-streamers, in the form of digital jewels and rubies, which are each worth varying amounts.

I don't know how that variable aspect is going to go, and I don't know that there is huge interest in posting animated stickers in streams. But then again, donations of this type are big on TikTok, and for some creators, this could become a valuable opportunity.