YouTube Raises the Bar for Creator Monetization in 2027
YouTube has announced sweeping changes to its monetization requirements, making it more difficult for creators to earn money through the platform's Partner Program (YPP). Starting February 1st, 2027, creators will need to meet stricter benchmarks to access ad revenue sharing.
Under the new rules, channels must have at least 1,000 subscribers and either 8,000 qualified watch hours over the past 12 months (doubled from the current 4,000), or 1,000 subscribers with 20 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days (also doubled from 10 million).
The changes also affect the Shorts Creators Pool, which distributes ad revenue specifically from YouTube Shorts. To earn money from this pool, creators will need to maintain at least 10 million Shorts views over a 90-day period. However, YouTube clarifies that dropping below this Shorts threshold alone will not result in removal from the broader YPP.
The move represents one of the most significant increases to YouTube's monetization门槛 since the program launched. The platform has been gradually tightening requirements over the years as competition for creator talent intensifies across the social media landscape.