Content creators worried as YouTube raises monetisation thresholds

Content platform, YouTube is tightening the requirements creators must meet to access advertising revenue through its YouTube Partner Programme (YPP), with the changes expected to particularly affect creators who rely heavily on short-form content.

Long-form creators will now need 8,000 qualified watch hours in 12 months, up from 4,000, alongside at least 1,000 subscribers to qualify for ad revenue sharing.

Creators seeking Shorts revenue will need 20 million qualified views within 90 days, double the previous 10 million-view requirement.

YouTube says it will introduce shopping bonuses, milestone-based incentives and other earning opportunities, while existing YPP creators will remain in the programme.

The platform announced the changes on Monday, describing them as the first major update to its Partner Programme requirements in several years.

Amjad Hanif, YouTube’s Vice-President of Creator Product, said the most significant adjustments would affect eligibility for advertising revenue sharing.

He said in a video explaining the updates; “The biggest changes are on what it takes to earn from ads

Creators who post long-form videos (aka not TikTok-style Shorts) now need 8,000 “qualified watch hours” in the last 12 months when applying to YouTube’s ad revenue share program. Previously, that number was 4,000 “qualified watch hours.” Creators will still need at least 1,000 subscribers to qualify.

For creators mostly posting shorter-form content, they can qualify for YouTube’s Shorts revenue-share program if they have 20 million “qualified Shorts views” within the last 90 days, also doubling the requirement (which was previously 10 million views). Creators will still need at least 1,000 subscribers.

Once accepted, Shorts creators will also need to stay within the 10 million views threshold over the 90-day period to keep making money. (They’ll be able to earn money from long-form videos even if they drop below the Shorts threshold, though.)

Creators who fall below that threshold could still earn money from their long-form content, provided they meet the relevant requirements.

Mr Hanif said YouTube wants its monetisation system to better reward creators who consistently generate views and engagement rather than those who benefit from a single viral hit.

He said; “We had a case where if you had only a few thousand views, you might have a few cents for that month, Instead, we’d like to design the programme in a way where it rewards creators who are leaned in, who are driving views and engagement,”

The new approach effectively means creators may need to demonstrate sustained audience interest rather than relying on occasional viral successes.

The higher thresholds have already prompted concerns among some creators, particularly those still trying to build an audience.

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