YouTube now requires creators to have twice as many watch hours to start earning money | TechCrunch

YouTube has announced a major update to its partner program that significantly raises the requirements for content creators to monetize their videos.

Starting in February, new participants must accumulate at least 8,000 watch hours within a single year or secure 20 million views on short-form videos within a 90-day window to qualify for ad revenue and subscriptions. This represents a doubling of the previous benchmarks, though creators who are already part of the monetization program will not be affected by these stricter rules. Additionally, short-form content creators will need to consistently maintain high view counts to continue earning from the platform's specialized creator pool, pressure-testing their ability to sustain large and highly active audiences over time.

The digital video company explained that these changes are designed to keep pace with the massive global expansion of its video platform, particularly the rapid growth of its short-form video and television-viewing segments. To help offset potential pushback and offer alternative revenue streams, the platform is also rolling out its cheaper, ad-free subscription tier to a wider global market. Creators will receive a portion of these subscription earnings based on total member viewing time, which the platform claims typically yields higher revenue than standard advertisements. This policy adjustment occurs amidst a broader industry trend, as rival social media platforms similarly restructure their financial reward programs to compete for top talent and incentivize high-quality original content.