In an effort to encourage creators to produce interesting and educational material, YouTube is stepping up its originality agenda by updating its YouTube Partner Program (YPP) monetization policy, which will take effect on July 15. This will deter producers from releasing mass-produced, unoriginal, and inauthentic content.
According to Renee Richie, YouTube’s Creator Liaison, the company is updating its YPP regulations to more accurately detect repetitive or mass-produced content. Artificial intelligence (AI)-generated films, low-effort compilations, and automated tutorials—content that is already prohibited by YPP policies—will be more readily identified and excluded from earning money.
YouTube’s new policy will ban content that heavily relies on reused clips, text-to-speech narration, or AI-generated visuals without adding original commentary or creative value. The policy change will not ban reaction or clip formats, but creators must now ensure their uploads offer original value.
YouTube’s core monetisation thresholds remain unchanged, with creators requiring at least 1,000 subscribers and either 4,000 valid public watch hours in the past 12 months or 10 million valid Shorts views within the past 90 days. The aim is to refocus the platform on authentic, high-quality content and reward creators who build trust with their audience.
However, YouTube has not specified what consequences creators might face for violating the new rules. There is no mention of penalties, suspensions, or strikes under the updated terms.
YouTube monetization requirements
Monetizing on YouTube requires following various policies, including Community Guidelines, Terms of Service, Copyright, Rights Clearance Adjustment, and program policies. These apply to anyone in or applying to the YouTube Partner Program and YouTube Shorts monetization policies. Content monetizing with ads must follow advertiser-friendly guidelines.
First-time users must accept the Commerce Product Module (CPM) before turning on individual features to earn revenue from fan funding features. Monetizing with fan funding features requires following Commerce Products monetization policies. Reviewers regularly check if monetizing channels follow these policies, and more information about how they enforce these policies can be found.
The YouTube Partner Program (YPP) enables content providers to make money through YouTube monetization. 1,000 members, 4,000 watch hours in the previous 12 months, or 10 million Shorts views in 90 days are requirements for eligibility. Ads, channel memberships, Super Chat and Super Stickers, and YouTube Premium revenue are all ways for creators to make money. Using YouTube’s merch shelf, qualified channels can also sell branded goods.
In addition to YPP, marketers can offer sponsored content to authors, which frequently pays more than ad revenue. Google AdSense pays earnings every month after the account reaches the $100 mark.
