YouTube is preparing to launch a new feature that will allow select producers to invite a visitor to go live alongside them, the company stated in a blog post and on its Creator Insider channel.
At launch, YouTube producers will only be able to co-stream using a mobile device, as the feature will not be available on the desktop platform.
YouTube aims to expand co-streaming to more creators in the future. Initially, co-streaming will only be offered to a restricted set of producers.
Creators are able to schedule a livestream with a guest from their PC and then broadcast live from their mobile device.
Alternatively, they can go live directly from their mobile device. Although you can rotate guests on your livestream, only one can be shown at any given moment. Once you’ve invited a guest, your stream will appear above theirs.
YouTube’s guest streams can run advertisements, but only the host will gain the revenue. YouTube says that while the stream won’t appear on the guest’s channel at present, the company notes that “visibility on guest channels is important,” indicating that the feature may be in development for the future.
YouTube’s dabbling in co-streaming features comes on the heels of TikTok and Twitch launching similar features. However, Twitch and TikTok’s co-streaming allows a creator to go live with more than one person. Still, YouTube’s co-streaming is in its infancy, and more features may make their way to the surface before a full launch.
Creators with access to the “Go Live Together” button on their accounts must enter their stream details, including the title, description, monetization settings, thumbnails, and visibility settings. Creators will then select the “Invite a Co-Streamer” option to choose a guest to invite to their livestream. Once the guest clicks the invite, they’ll arrive in a waiting room, where the host can tap the “Go Live” button once both creators are ready to stream.
While creators will only be able to use the feature from mobile, for the time being, a workaround is to schedule a livestream from their computer and then go live from a mobile device. Only one guest can currently appear at a time, although you can rotate guests without the need to end and restart the stream.
