YouTube Simplifies Requirements for Monetization Access

YouTube Simplifies Requirements for Monetization Access and Expands Shopping Affiliate Program

YouTube has announced that it is making it easier for creators to qualify for monetization tools through the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). The company is extending its shopping affiliate program to U.S.-based creators who are part of YPP and have over 20,000 subscribers.

Under the new eligibility criteria, creators need to meet the following conditions:

- Have a minimum of 500 subscribers.

- Have at least 3 public uploads in the past 90 days.

- Achieve either 3,000 watch hours in the past year or 3 million Shorts views in the last 90 days.

Previously, the requirements were as follows:

- Have a minimum of 1,000 subscribers.

- Achieve either 4,000 watch hours in the past year or 10 million Shorts views in the last 90 days.

Once creators meet the new threshold, they can apply to join YPP and gain access to various monetization tools such as Super Thanks, Super Chat, Super Stickers, channel memberships, and the ability to promote their merchandise through YouTube Shopping.

It is worth noting that the condition of uploading three videos in 90 days might pose a challenge for creators focused on longer videos, as they may not have sufficient material to produce multiple videos within that timeframe, even if they gather millions of views.

YouTube is implementing these new eligibility criteria in the U.S., the U.K., Canada, Taiwan, and South Korea, with plans to expand to other countries where YPP is available.

Additionally, the platform is expanding its Shopping affiliate pilot program to more U.S.-based creators. Creators who are already part of YPP and have over 20,000 subscribers will now be able to tag products in their videos and Shorts and earn commissions. YouTube had initially introduced shopping-related features for Shorts to select U.S.-based creators in November.

YouTube is expected to provide further details about these new programs during the upcoming VidCon conference.

In March, YouTube revised its rules regarding the use of profanities at the beginning of videos. Previously, the policy disqualified any video that used profanity in the first 15 seconds, even if it was an older upload. The revised policy reduced the time limit to seven seconds and allowed profanity in music videos.

YouTube has been actively introducing new monetization tools for Shorts creators, including revenue sharing for Shorts ads, which was introduced in February. During its Q4 2022 earnings call, the company reported that Shorts had surpassed 50 billion daily views. In comparison, Meta (formerly Facebook) stated that Reels garnered 140 billion daily views across Instagram and Facebook last October.

Last year, YouTube introduced Creator Music, a tool that allows artists to earn money by licensing their music for use in videos. In March, the platform introduced a new metric to track an artist's reach across different formats, including Shorts.

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