YouTube Tightens Monetization Requirements for New Creators

YouTube has announced stricter monetization requirements for new creators seeking to earn money through the platform, with higher watch time and Shorts view targets set to qualify for advertising and YouTube Premium revenue.

According to the new policy, creators applying to the YouTube Partner Program will need to achieve higher levels of eligible watch time or Shorts views than previously required.

The new requirements will apply to new applicants from February 1, 2027. Under the updated criteria, creators will need to accumulate 8,000 eligible public watch hours within the previous 365 days or 20 million eligible YouTube Shorts views within the previous 90 days.

Previously, creators were required to achieve 4,000 eligible watch hours or 10 million eligible Shorts views to meet the relevant threshold. This means both targets have effectively been doubled under the announced changes.

However, YouTube has not changed the minimum subscriber requirement. Creators will still need at least 1,000 subscribers to qualify for the YouTube Partner Program under the stated criteria.

The changes are expected to make monetization more challenging for new creators, particularly those who are still building their audience and watch time on the platform.

Despite the stricter requirements, YouTube remains one of the world’s largest platforms for creator earnings. More than 3 million creators worldwide are currently earning income through the YouTube Partner Program.

The updated requirements will therefore be particularly important for new creators planning to monetize their channels after the policy comes into effect.