YouTube is introducing a new feature that pauses advertisements during livestreams when chat engagement reaches its peak, according to TechCrunch.
The platform aims to protect the atmosphere of live broadcasts by detecting high levels of interaction. When the system recognizes a surge in activity, it will automatically hold back ads for all viewers.
In a company blog post, YouTube stated that when chat energy explodes, the platform wants to “protect that collective vibe.”
This change offers a new way to experience ad-free content without a YouTube Premium subscription. Previously, paying for a subscription was the only method to avoid interruptions.
Rewards for viewer support
The update also introduces immediate benefits for fans who use monetization tools. Viewers who purchase Super Chats, Super Stickers, or digital gifts will receive a personal ad-free window immediately following their transaction.
Super Chats allow users to highlight messages in the chat, while Super Stickers are purchasable images designed to make messages stand out.
YouTube is also expanding its gifting features to more regions. The company confirmed that creators in Canada, Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia, and New Zealand are now eligible to receive gifts from their audiences.
Additional technical updates include the ability to send GIFs on horizontal livestreams via mobile devices. YouTube also announced that creators can now broadcast in both vertical and horizontal formats simultaneously.
This dual-format capability allows all viewers to participate in a single, shared chat. The move follows data from 2025 showing that over 30% of live watch time in the United States originated from connected TVs.
