YouTube updates to include crowd-funding options

YouTube is planning a number of site enhancements in the coming months, including tools that will allow content curators to crowd-source subtitle translations and raise KickStarter-style funding.

Announcing the new features and updates on the YouTube Creators blog, the video site said that it is adding an option where fans will be able to contribute money to support a channel “at any time, for any reason.”

In a direct response to money-pledging services like KickStarter and IndieGogo, YouTube said that a handful of its creators are already testing the feature on desktop and Android, with other site users keen to use the service able to sign up now.

In terms of new subtitling options, YouTube said that in the coming months site users will be able to subtitle translations in any language based on the subtitles or captions a channel owner has created, “helping you reach even more viewers.”

Other new features being introduced is a new sound effects library that will include thousands of royalty-free clips, and a new YouTube Creator Studio app that will let users see analytics and manage their videos. This is already available for Android with on iOS release due in the coming weeks.

YouTube is also introducing new interactive information cards and new playlist tools, designed to make it easier for users to discover playlists.