YouTube tightens monetization requirements – newcomers will need twice as many views

YouTube might be turning into a less rewarding platform for creators just starting out.

The platform announced updated monetization rules for its Partner Program, and the news isn't great for newcomers.

Qualifying for the program will now require some impressive numbers. Starting February 1, users will need at least 1,000 subscribers along with either 8,000 qualified watch hours over the past year or 20 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days.

That's a massive jump from the current requirements. Right now, joining the program takes 1,000 subscribers plus 4,000 watch hours over a year or 10 million Shorts views in 90 days. So in just a few months, every threshold doubles except the subscriber count.

Shorts creators will also need to maintain 10 million views every 90 days to keep earning from the shared revenue pool. Dropping below that mark won't get someone kicked out of the program entirely, but it will cut off payouts for that 90-day stretch.

Existing partners face new rules next year too. They'll need to maintain either 1,000 watch hours annually or 1 million Shorts views. Creators can sidestep this by posting more often, since uploading two long-form videos or five Shorts every 90 days keeps their standing intact.

On top of that, YouTube will remove creators from the program entirely if they go six months or more without uploading anything.

YouTube claims all of this will balance out, pointing to the expansion of its Premium Lite subscription to "all countries where we offer YouTube Premium." This scaled-back version of the service lets people watch ad-free videos but skips the music streaming component.

According to YouTube, "with these additional subscribers, creators can expect higher earnings." The platform also says creators will get access to a better revenue pool for views coming from Premium Lite subscribers.

Whether Premium Lite actually brings in enough new subscribers to offset these steeper requirements remains an open question. YouTube doesn't publicly break down subscriber numbers by tier, though it has previously reported a combined total of 125 million paid users across both subscription levels worldwide.