If you’ve ever felt like your YouTube Shorts video was doing everything right—high views, strong engagement—but still wasn’t converting into clicks or sales, you’re not alone.

That’s exactly why YouTube is rolling out product stickers inside Shorts. This new feature already shows big results, with a 40% increase in product clicks during a May 2025 U.S. experiment. 

And it’s not just about shopping—YouTube is also expanding community features and live gifting to help creators monetize and connect more effectively.

Here’s everything you need to know about the latest YouTube Shorts video update.

🛍️ Product Stickers in YouTube Shorts Videos

YouTube has officially upgraded how shopping looks inside a Shorts video:

• Before: Tagged products appeared as a small banner in the corner.

• Now, Viewers will see a product sticker image right on the screen.

When viewers tap the sticker:

• They’re sent directly to the product’s retailer page.
• Tapping a down arrow reveals the full list if multiple products are tagged.

Important Details:

• The sticker shows the first product in your tagged list.
• You can reorder tags to choose which product appears.
• Editing sticker size and placement requires the YouTube main app.

Creators uploading via desktop or Studio Mobile must switch to the main app to adjust these elements.

In tests, Shorts with stickers saw over 40% more product clicks than those using the old shopping button. This change is global, except South Korea (for now).

What This Means for Shorts Creators

• More Clicks: Stickers are visual and engaging—no more subtle banners.
• Optimized Shopping Flow: Viewers can purchase in fewer taps.
• New Design Opportunities: Creators can use sticker placement to highlight key products in context.

This is a major upgrade if you’re already tagging products in your YouTube Shorts videos.

Related Feature Updates That Impact Shorts

1. Communities Are Expanding

YouTube is making Communities available to all creators with post access. This lets you:

• Host ongoing conversations outside of video comments.
• Allow subscribers to post and interact.
• Moderate using existing tools (block lists, review settings, etc.).

2. New Live Gifts in the U.S.

Four new animated gifts, Victory Spin, Hurray, Sealplash, and Rockstar, can be sent during streams. Creators are encouraged to thank gift senders to drive more support.

Final Tips for Shorts Creators

• Pick Your Best Product First: Only the first tag generates the sticker.
• Edit for Impact: Use the YouTube main app to adjust sticker size/placement.
• Create Welcome Posts: If activating Communities, start with a pinned post to set expectations.

Conclusion

If you’re a creator looking to make the most of short-form content, these updates offer real tactical value:

• Use product stickers to make the shopping experience feel native and effortless. Prioritize visually appealing products and position them with intent.
• Leverage Communities to keep your audience engaged between video uploads. They can be a space for polls, behind-the-scenes posts, or subscriber-led discussions.
• Test new gifts in livestreams to increase viewer interaction and show appreciation in real time.

By adopting these tools early and learning what works best for your niche, you can build stronger revenue streams and a more connected audience within the YouTube Shorts video experience.

If you create educational content on YouTube, your videos might already be helping students learn in classrooms worldwide.

YouTube’s Player for Education program is changing how schools access your content and how you get paid for it. Here’s everything you need to know, straight from YouTube

How Player for Education Works

For Viewers (Schools & Students)

• Teachers embed their videos directly into digital learning tools
• Ad-free experience: No distractions from lessons
• Enhanced privacy: No targeted recommendations or comments

For Creators 

• Your existing videos may already be used if embedding is enabled
• No special uploads required
• Earn through watch time licensing (not ads)

3 Key Facts Straight from YouTube

1. Opt-In is Automatic

•  If embedding is enabled, your content is eligible
•  No separate application needed

2. Payment is Performance-Based

•  Earnings come from educational partners’ licensing fees
•  Paid based on your share of monthly watch time

3. Full Creator Control

• Restrict embedding anytime in YouTube Studio
• Payment terms are optional (but required to earn)

Your Action Plan

If You Want to Participate

1. Enable embedding (if not already on):

• YouTube Studio → Settings → Permissions

2. Wait for YouTube’s invitation (monthly batches):

• Check: Earn → More ways to earn → Player for Education

3. Track performance:

• Filter Analytics by “Player type: Education”

If You Prefer to Opt Out

• Disable embedding for specific videos
• No penalty for non-participation

What Schools See (And Don’t See)

✅ Can Access:

• Your video content
• Descriptions and chapters

❌ Can’t Access:

• Ads or external links
• Recommended videos sidebar
• Comments section

Real Talk: The Pros and Cons

The Upside

• New revenue stream without ad pressure
• Content reaches students who need it most
• Builds long-term educational authority

The Limitations

• Payments depend on institutional demand.
• Requires a signed contract to earn
• Analytics is less detailed than the main dashboard

Smart Strategies for EDU Creators

1. Optimize Existing Content

• Add clear timestamps (e.g., “00:00 Introduction”)
• Use school-friendly titles (“Cell Division Explained”)

2. Create for Classroom Use

• 7-15 minute “lesson-sized” videos perform best
• Avoid brand promotions in educational content

3. Spread the Word

• Mention in descriptions: “Available for classroom embedding”
•  Share with teacher communities (responsibly)

Where to Find Your Data

Earnings:

• Appear monthly in AdSense
• Labelled “Player for Education”

Performance:

• YouTube Studio → Analytics → Advanced Mode
• Filter by “Player type”

Conclusion: Is YouTube’s Education Player Right for You?

The Player for Education represents a meaningful shift in how educational content reaches classrooms and how creators are rewarded for their expertise. 

While it won’t replace ad revenue overnight, it offers arguably more valuable: sustainable income tied directly to educational impact.

For creators who:

✔️ Teach complex concepts

✔️ Prioritize evergreen, curriculum-aligned content

✔️ Want their work to reach students authentically

This program is worth embracing. Enable embedding, watch for your invite, and consider optimizing older videos for classroom use.

For everyone else? The choice remains yours, YouTube’s made sure of that.

What’s your take? Will you optimize for classrooms, or stick to traditional formats? Share your thoughts in the comments.

So, you’re watching a YouTube Short. Something catches your eye, maybe a cool pair of sneakers, a must-visit spot, or a quote in another language, and you’re thinking:

“Wait…what is that? Where can I find it?”

Well, YouTube’s got a new trick up its sleeve. They’re bringing Google Lens straight into Shorts, and it’s about to change how we watch, search, and even create short-form content.

Let’s explain this new update, how it works, and why creators and marketers should absolutely keep it on their radar.

What is Google Lens Doing Inside YouTube Shorts?

In short (pun intended), Google Lens now lets viewers interact with what they see in a YouTube Short.

Instead of passively watching, you can:

• Pause the video
• Tap the Lens button
• Highlight anything you’re curious about

And boom, get Google-powered results right on the spot.

Think product searches, translations, landmark IDs, quotes, public figures, all while never leaving the Short you’re watching.

It’s like turning YouTube Shorts into clickable, searchable mini-webpages.

How Does It Actually Work?

Here’s the flow, it’s surprisingly smooth:

• Tap the screen to pause the Short.
• You’ll see a “Lens” icon up top.
• Tap it, and highlight what you want more info on
• Lens shows you relevant search results, live, right over the video.

And no, it’s not showing ads right now (that might change later). It’s also not using facial recognition, but if someone in the video is a known public figure, you might see info about them.

This only works on mobile devices, and it’s still rolling out, so if you don’t see it yet, hang tight.

What This Means for Creators

At first glance, this seems like a win for viewers. But let’s talk about you, the creator.

This new Lens feature could completely shift how people engage with your content. Here’s what you should know:

1. If It’s On-Screen, It’s Searchable

As long as your Short isn’t monetized through affiliate tags or paid product placements, Lens can pick up anything visible. That shirt you wore, that gadget in the background is fair game.

2. Paid Shorts Are Skipped

If your Short includes affiliate links or product promotions, Lens won’t work on it. YouTube wants to avoid overlapping its monetization systems with Lens search results.

3. More Reasons to Be Intentional

This adds a layer of thought to your visuals. What are you putting in frame? Are you showing products intentionally? Now might be the time to start.

Why This Could Be Huge for YouTube Shorts Trends

This update isn’t random; it fits perfectly with where YouTube Shorts trends are heading:

• People want instant answers
• Brands want organic visibility
• Creators want more engagement tools

Let’s say you’re a travel creator. You show a cool building, and someone wants to know what it is. They no longer need to comment and hope you reply. They pause, Lens it, and get the info right there.

That’s user experience on another level, and it positions Shorts as more than entertainment; it becomes a utility.

Quick Reminder: How Long Do YouTube Shorts Have to Be?

Before we go deeper, a quick refresher for anyone new to creating:

• YouTube Shorts must be 60 seconds or less.
• That can be a single continuous video or multiple clips stitched together.

Why bring this up? Because now that your video is searchable (thanks to Lens), every second matters. What you show on screen and how long it stays there could influence how people interact with your content.

What Should Creators and Brands Do Now?

Here’s what this moment calls for:

• Be visual on purpose. If you want something to be discoverable, make sure it’s visible, centered, and clear.
• Think value, not just views. Viewers will use Lens to explore, so what do you want them to find?
• Consider storytelling and search. You’re not just making Shorts to entertain anymore. Through your content, you’re helping people explore, shop, learn, and discover.

This Lens integration is a quiet update, but it’s powerful. It hints at a future where Shorts aren’t just for laughs and trends, but for real-time discovery.

For creators, this is a nudge to be more intentional. For brands, it’s a heads-up: your product could go viral without even being tagged. And for viewers, the world just became a little more clickable.

Want more updates like this, tailored for creators and social-savvy brands?Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us @Logie for weekly breakdowns of the trends that matter.

YouTube is piloting a new feature to enhance viewer engagement during live streams: a real-time leaderboard that ranks the top 50 active participants. 

This initiative aims to gamify the live streaming experience, encouraging viewers to interact more through chats, Super Chats, Super Stickers, and gifts.

What Is the YouTube Livestream Leaderboard?

The livestream leaderboard is a dynamic feature that displays the most engaged viewers during a live broadcast. Participants earn experience points (XP) by:

• Sending live chat messages
• Purchasing Super Chats
• Sending Super Stickers
• Gifting channel memberships (currently available only in the U.S. on vertical live streams)

As viewers accumulate points, a crown icon appears at the top of the live chat, indicating their current XP. 

Clicking this icon reveals the leaderboard, which showcases the top 50 engaged viewers. During the stream, the top three participants receive a special badge next to their username, highlighting their status. 

Why Is YouTube Introducing This Feature?

This move aligns YouTube more closely with platforms like Twitch, where gamified engagement tools are commonplace. By introducing a leaderboard, YouTube aims to:

• Boost Viewer Interaction: Encouraging more active participation through chats and other interactive features.
• Increase Revenue: Promoting monetized features like Super Chats and Stickers.
• Foster Community Building: Creating a sense of competition and recognition among viewers.

This feature is particularly targeted at the gaming community, where such interactive elements are already popular.

How Does It Work?

• Earning Points: Viewers gain XP through various interactions during the live stream.
• Leaderboard Visibility: The crown icon in the chat displays the viewer’s current XP. Clicking it opens the leaderboard.
• Badge Allocation: The top three viewers receive badges next to their names in the chat. These badges are dynamic and can change as engagement levels shift during the stream.
• Leaderboard Duration: The leaderboard is visible during the live stream and remains accessible during replays.

• Eligibility: Only viewers aged 18 and over can participate in the leaderboard.

Opting Out

YouTube provides an option for viewers who prefer not to appear on the leaderboard:

1. Sign in to the YouTube app.
2. Navigate to the You tab and select Settings.
3. Go to Live Chat.
4. Toggle off Leaderboard Participation.

This setting is available on both desktop and mobile platforms.

Community Feedback

The introduction of the leaderboard has elicited mixed reactions:

Positive Aspects:

• Encourages active participation and enhances the live streaming experience.
• Provides recognition for dedicated viewers.

Concerns:

• Potential for promoting excessive competition or “pay-to-win” scenarios.
• Privacy concerns regarding the public display of engagement levels.
• Risk of fostering parasocial relationships, where viewers may seek validation through leaderboard rankings.

Implications for Creators and Marketers

For content creators and marketers, this feature offers new avenues to:

• Increase Engagement: By recognizing top fans, creators can foster a more interactive community.
• Monetize Content: Encouraging Super Chats and Stickers can increase revenue.
• Gather Insights: Understanding viewer engagement patterns can inform content strategies.

However, balancing these benefits with considerations of viewer comfort and privacy is essential.

Currently, the leaderboard feature is in the testing phase with a select group of users. YouTube plans to monitor feedback and engagement metrics before considering a broader rollout.

As the platform continues to evolve, features like the leaderboard may become integral in shaping the future of live streaming, blending entertainment with interactive community building.