YOUTUBE DOUBLES MONETIZATION REQUIREMENTS FOR CREATORS

Starting next year, creators must have 1,000 subscribers plus either 8,000 qualified watch hours over the past year or 20 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days to monetize. This represents a substantial increase from current requirements of 1,000 subscribers with 4,000 watch hours annually, or 10 million Shorts views quarterly. The updated policy also introduces new maintenance obligations. Creators will need to maintain a 10 million view threshold (specifics remain incomplete in the source material). These changes affect thousands of small creators currently eligible for monetization. The doubled watch hour requirement means established channels must sustain significantly higher engagement to unlock revenue sharing. Shorts creators face a 100% increase in the view minimum. YouTube has not publicly stated reasons for the increase, though the platform has historically cited quality and engagement concerns when adjusting Partner Program criteria.