In short
- YouTube doesn’t connect channel memberships to a Telegram group: you make the link, or a bot does.
- By hand it works for a few members: you compare the members list in YouTube Studio with who asks to join.
- With a bot, members sign in with Google, the bot checks the membership and lets them in; people who cancel are removed on their own.
1. Set up channel memberships
Channel memberships are switched on in YouTube Studio, if the channel is in the YouTube Partner Program. The requirements change over time: check them in YouTube’s help.
- Decide the levels: one is enough. The group can be a perk of every level or only of the higher ones.
- List the Telegram group among the level’s perks, so people know what they get.
- Publish at least one members-only video: it shows what the membership is about.
2. Create the group and close the door
Set up the group like any paid group: private, with a clear rule.
- Make it private and stop members from adding people.
- Use invite links with admin approval: a link that gets shared lets nobody in on its own.
- Write in the description that the group is for channel members, and that people who cancel are removed.
3. Check who is a member: by hand or with a bot
YouTube Studio lists your members with their channel name and level. The hard part is matching that name to a person on Telegram, and noticing who cancels.
| Aspect | By hand | With a bot like Cerchia |
|---|---|---|
| How you know who’s a member | You compare the YouTube Studio list with who asks to join | The member signs in with Google and the bot checks the membership |
| Who lets people in | You, one request at a time | The bot, as soon as the membership is verified |
| Who cancels | You only find out if you check the list again | The bot re-checks every day; they leave after the grace days you choose |
| Who gets paid | YouTube, as always | YouTube, as always: Cerchia only handles access |
Frequently asked questions
- Can I do this with Discord too?
- Yes: Discord already has a YouTube integration that gives channel members a role. Telegram has no official link, which is why you need a bot.
- Does the member have to give me their email?
- No. With Cerchia, members sign in with Google only for the check: we keep their YouTube channel ID and the linked Telegram account, not their email.
- What if a member cancels?
- They stay in the group for the grace days you choose, then they’re removed. If they join again, they’re back in.