Link: YouTube is making it harder to earn money on YouTube

Starting February 1st, 2027, YouTube will double the watch hour requirement for monetization through its Partner Program (YPP). Creators will need 1,000 subscribers and 8,000 watch hours over the past year, or 20 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days.

This represents a significant increase from the current requirement of 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours. Additionally, to earn from the Shorts Creators Pool, creators must maintain 10 million Shorts views over 90 days.

YouTube also plans to expand its Premium Lite subscription globally. Subscription revenue is divided, with 55 percent for long-form video creators and 45 percent for Shorts creators.

The platform's shift includes increasing similarity with premium TV services like Netflix and HBO Max. YouTube is enhancing its offerings, including organized video seasons and partnerships with high-profile creators.

There are updated stipulations for maintaining monetization eligibility. Creators need to keep either 1,000 watch hours, one million Shorts views, or a regular upload schedule to remain in YPP.

Existing YPP members must accept the new terms by January 31st, 2027, to continue monetizing their content. This requirement aims to encourage consistent content creation and viewer engagement on the platform. #

--

Yoooo, this is a quick note on a link that made me go, WTF? Find all past links here.