In a significant move, YouTube has announced a revision to its monetization requirements, bringing about a major change for creators. This development, which goes into effect today, June 13, 2023. It is aimed at making it easier for aspiring YouTubers to join the YouTube Partner program. The new requirements, while lowering certain thresholds, come with a catch. In this article, we will explore the details of the update, discuss its implications, and consider whether these changes are fair to creators.

Historic Changes: Lowered Requirements

The latest YouTube Partner program requirements mark a historic shift in the platform’s approach to monetization. Here are the key numbers that creators need to achieve to be eligible:

  • 500 subscribers
  • 3 public video uploads over the last 90 days
  • 3,000 watch hours over the last year or 3,000,000 YouTube shorts views within 90 days

green box with wordsCompared to the previous criteria, these new requirements reflect a reduction of 500 subscribers, 1,000 watch hours, or 10,000,000 YouTube shorts views. This news is undoubtedly a cause for celebration, as it allows creators to unlock Super Chat, Super Stickers, Super Thanks, channel memberships, and even the ability to sell their own products through YouTube Shopping right from the start.

The Catch: YouTube Partner Program Is Stripped Down

While these changes offer exciting opportunities, there is a crucial distinction to be made. The lowered requirements grant access to the YouTube Partner program, it does not provide ad revenue which is the ultimate goal for most creators. This is important, this ‘stripped down’ edition does not include revenue sharing from ads, which remains reserved for creators who fulfill the classic threshold of 1,000 subscribers, 4,000 watch hours, or 10 million YouTube shorts views.

Implications for Creators

The announcement of the new requirements has generated mixed feelings among creators. While it is commendable that YouTube acknowledges the desire of creators to monetize their channels and accelerates the process, some concerns arise. By enabling smaller creators to monetize their audience rather than their content, YouTube assumes that creators have already cultivated a community. However, many small creators are still in the early stages of their YouTube journey and lack the necessary resources and audience engagement to fully benefit from the features offered by the Lite Edition.

The new monetization requirements put an emphasis on developing a community over time. Features like Super Thanks, Super Chat, memberships, and YouTube Shopping necessitate consistent effort and community cultivation. Although established channels with substantial followings and dedicated teams can take advantage of these features, smaller creators face challenges in fully utilizing them.

Fairness of the New Requirements

The question of whether these updated monetization requirements are fair is subjective and open to interpretation. On one hand, the lowered thresholds allow creators to monetize their channels more quickly, which is undoubtedly a positive step. However, it is essential to recognize that these changes primarily benefit creators who have already established a community and are equipped to take advantage of the additional features. For smaller creators who are primarily focused on generating revenue from views, the new requirements may not provide the desired outcome.

Conclusion

In conclusion, YouTube’s decision to lower the monetization requirements for the YouTube Partner program is a significant development. The reduced thresholds offer an opportunity for creators to monetize their channels more quickly. However, it is crucial to understand that the new requirements grant access to the Lite Edition, which does not include revenue sharing from ads. While the features available in the Lite Edition can be advantageous for creators with an established community, smaller creators may find it challenging to maximize the benefits. Ultimately, the fairness of these changes depends on individual perspectives and goals as creators strive to monetize their content on YouTube.