YouTube is raising the bar for new creators who want to make money from their videos, doubling the number of watch hours they need before they can qualify for its main monetisation programme.
YouTube is making it harder for new creators to start earning money from the platform by doubling the watch-hour requirement for joining its Partner Program.
Under the new rules, creators will need at least 8,000 qualified watch hours over the previous 12 months, compared with the current requirement of 4,000 hours.
Creators who focus on Shorts will also face a higher target. They will need 20 million qualified Shorts views within 90 days, up from 10 million.
The changes are due to take effect on 1 February.
YouTube says the new requirements will only apply to creators who are trying to enter the programme. Those who are already part of the YouTube Partner Program will not be affected.
The move could make the journey to monetisation significantly longer for smaller channels, particularly creators who are still building an audience.
For many new YouTubers, reaching 4,000 hours of watch time is already one of the biggest hurdles before they can begin earning from advertising and other features.
Doubling that requirement means creators may now have to spend more time producing videos, building audiences and keeping viewers on their channels.
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The Shorts threshold is also being raised substantially, making viral short-form content an even more demanding route into monetisation.
YouTube has not indicated that existing monetised creators will lose their status because of the change.
The decision comes as competition for attention on video platforms continues to grow, with creators increasingly relying on YouTube as a source of income.
For aspiring creators, however, the message is clear: getting views is no longer enough. New channels will need to build a much larger and more engaged audience before YouTube allows them to start earning.
The higher thresholds could encourage creators to focus more heavily on consistent, long-form content and audience retention as they work towards monetisation.
