Channel Memberships (2018): Viewers pay $5-50/month for badges, emojis, exclusive posts, community perks. YouTube’s Patreon competitor keeping revenue on-platform (YouTube takes 30%). By 2023: Widespread adoption but Patreon still dominates creator economy (lower fees, better tools, independence from platform algorithm). Memberships work best for gaming streamers (Jacksepticeye, Markiplier) leveraging live chat perks.
Sources: YouTube memberships rollout, Patreon vs YouTube comparison, creator revenue breakdowns