Hajra Naz
YouTube is making two notable updates: a better way to display shopping links in Shorts and broader access to its Community tab for creators.
Shopping Stickers in Shorts
Product promotion in Shorts just got more visible. Instead of hiding links in the bottom-left banner, creators can now place product stickers directly on the screen. These stickers can be moved around for better placement, but only through the main YouTube app—not the desktop version or Studio Mobile.
If more than one item is tagged, tapping the small arrow on the sticker will pull up the full list. By default, the sticker links to the first product in your lineup, but you can adjust that order manually. It’s a cleaner, more noticeable setup—especially helpful if you’re looking to drive more clicks.
YouTube tested the new design in the U.S. this May. Shorts using product stickers saw over 40% more clicks compared to those using the older shopping button. That’s a meaningful bump for channels focused on e-commerce or affiliate sales.
Community Tab Rollout
More creators are getting access to YouTube’s Community feature, which brings a discussion board-style feed to your channel. It allows for short posts, images, and polls—useful for updates or starting conversations without needing a full video.
Eligible creators will get an email and an in-app banner on their channel’s mobile page. Two sorting options are available for posts: “Top Posts,” which shows content likely to get engagement, and “Newest,” which displays updates in reverse order.
YouTube has also fine-tuned how it ranks posts. Content with better engagement potential is now more likely to be featured near the top, while lower-quality updates are less visible. The goal is to help creators highlight more relevant conversations and stay better connected with their audience.
Read More: YouTube Tries Out New Livestream Leaderboard to Boost Engagement
New Livestream Gifts
Lastly, YouTube is adding four new animated GIFs that viewers can send during live streams: Victory Spin, Hooray, Seal Splash, and Rockstar. These gifts show up on screen and act as a way for fans to support streamers financially while getting noticed in chat.
Right now, these gifts are only available in the U.S. YouTube hasn’t said when—or if—they’ll expand to other regions.
