YouTube Tightens Monetization Rules for New Creators, Requiring 8,000 Watch Hours

YouTube is significantly raising the bar for new content creators seeking to monetize their channels through the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). Starting February 1, 2027, aspiring creators will face considerably stricter requirements to qualify for ad revenue sharing.

The updated policy mandates that new creators must achieve 1,000 subscribers coupled with either 8,000 valid watch hours within the past 365 days or, alternatively, 20 million valid Shorts views within the last 90 days. This marks a substantial increase from the previous thresholds, which required 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in 12 months, or 1,000 subscribers and 10 million Shorts views in 90 days.

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By raising these thresholds, the platform is working to ensure creators can earn a meaningful income from their efforts on YouTube, rather than just a few cents a month.

Amjad Hanif, VP of Creator Product at YouTube, explained that the increased thresholds are intended to ensure that creators joining the program can achieve a more meaningful income. "By raising these thresholds, the platform is working to ensure creators can earn a meaningful income from their efforts on YouTube, rather than just a few cents a month," Hanif stated, as reported by Social Media Today.

Importantly, creators already enrolled in the YPP will not be affected by these new rules and will continue to meet the existing eligibility criteria. Furthermore, YouTube has confirmed that the requirements for accessing fan funding features, such as Super Chat, channel memberships, and creator funding programs, remain unchanged. These still require 500 subscribers and either 3,000 watch hours or 3 million Shorts views in 90 days.

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For fan funding, creators still need 500 subscribers and 3,000 watch hours, or 3 million views in 90 days.