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YouTube is giving creators more control over their live streams. The platform has added an option to opt out of its Top Fan Leaderboard feature, which ranks the most engaged viewers during a broadcast.
The leaderboard was introduced in July 2025 to encourage fan engagement and reward community participation. Viewers earn “XP” points through comments, Super Chats, Super Stickers, and gifts. The top three fans receive a special badge that appears next to their usernames during the stream.
However, after months of testing, many creators said they did not want the leaderboard visible during their broadcasts. They found it distracting or commercialising the viewing experience.
How Can Creators Opt Out?
Responding to creator feedback, YouTube has made it possible to disable the feature either before or during a stream.
According to YouTube’s Creator Insider team:
- When setting up a stream on the web, creators can deselect the “Leaderboard” checkbox in the live chat section.
- During a live stream, they can click “Edit” ==> Customise Stream ==> Deselect Leaderboard.
- On mobile, through Cameo, creators can toggle “Allow Leaderboard Rankings” under “Advanced Settings”.
The update applies to both classic and immersive live streams, giving creators greater flexibility to manage their broadcast environment.
YouTube originally designed the leaderboard to boost engagement and donations, helping creators earn more during live sessions. However, some creators remain cautious, citing privacy and viewer exposure concerns.
The opt-out option ensures creators can decide whether to use the leaderboard based on their audience and content type.
Copyright Tab Renamed in YouTube Studio
In the same update, YouTube announced that it is renaming the “Copyright” tab in YouTube Studio to “Content Detection”.
The tab’s features remain the same, including the Copyright Match Tool and the Likeness Detection system for eligible creators. The new name better represents the broader set of detection tools available under this section.
YouTube said the update aims to make it easier for creators to locate and understand these tools as they manage their content.
With these changes, YouTube continues to refine its creator tools, balancing engagement with privacy and transparency. The updates highlight the platform’s focus on flexibility, control, and community trust for creators using live streaming and Studio features.
