Twitter Will Allow People To Earn Money Streaming Live On Periscope

In social commerce news this week: Twitter is launching a system that allows people to earn virtual currency by streaming live on its Periscope user-generated video service.

According to Reuters, this initiative is a way for the company to try to compete with YouTube and others in the search for internet talent.

Periscope viewers will be able to send performers and broadcasters they like a variety of heart shapes that are, in effect, a virtual currency they can purchase. Broadcasters who receive the equivalent of about $175 in “super hearts” will be designated “super broadcasters” and can cash out the money as earnings.

Initially, only those in the United States will be eligible, but there are plans to expand to other countries soon.

“The spirit and the goal is for all broadcasters to be able to do this,” said Sara Haider, Periscope’s director of engineering.

After fees and payment processing, broadcasters will get about 70 percent of the remaining gratuity, but Twitter would not give an estimate of its own potential revenue from the service.

Periscope, which Twitter launched in 2015, has streamed 77 million hours of live, user-generated video in the first three months of this year.