Major change by YouTube: Earning money will become harder; this criterion must now be met..

YouTube has announced significant changes to the rules of its YouTube Partner Program (YPP). According to the company, this is the most substantial update since 2018. Under the new rules, new creators will need to achieve higher watch time or Shorts view counts than previously required to join the program. These new rules will come into effect on February 1, 2027.

**Joining YPP to become harder from 2027**
YouTube stated that starting February 1, 2027, new creators applying for the YouTube Partner Program must have accumulated at least 8,000 qualified watch hours over the past year. Additionally, for creators seeking to join YPP via Shorts, the requirement is set at 20 million qualified Shorts views over the last 90 days.

This marks a major shift compared to current rules. Currently, to join YPP, a creator needs 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 qualified watch hours over the past 365 days. For Shorts, the requirement is 1,000 subscribers and 10 million Shorts views over the last 90 days. However, YouTube has clarified that there are no changes to the entry thresholds for fan funding and shopping products.

**Rules for Shorts monetization also changed**
YouTube has also revised the rules regarding earnings from Shorts. Under the new regulations, creators must achieve at least 10 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days to qualify for ad and subscription revenue sharing from Shorts. This rule will also take effect on February 1, 2027. However, if a creator's Shorts views do not reach this threshold, it does not mean they will be removed from the YouTube Partner Program. Such creators can remain part of YPP and continue to be eligible for revenue generated from long-form content.

**Why did YouTube change the rules?** The company states that these changes are being made in light of YouTube's rapidly growing platform. According to YouTube, the platform now garners over 200 billion Shorts views daily. Additionally, more than 1 billion hours of YouTube content are watched on TV screens every day.

The company believes it is essential to update the Partner Program terms to keep pace with the platform's growth and the evolving creator economy. YouTube has also stated that it expects to pay creators more in 2027 compared to 2026.

Current YouTube Partner Program terms:
1,000 subscribers
4,000 qualified watch hours in the last 365 days
OR

1,000 subscribers
10 million Shorts views in the last 90 days
Under the new terms effective February 1, 2027:
8,000 qualified watch hours in the past year

OR

20 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days

However, it has not been clarified whether the existing requirement of 1,000 subscribers will remain unchanged or undergo specific modifications under the new terms.

Premium Lite plan also made available
Alongside the changes to the Partner Program rules, YouTube has announced the expansion of its Premium Lite plan to more regions. According to the company, Premium Lite is now available in "all countries." With this plan, users will see fewer ads on most content. Additionally, users will be able to download videos for offline viewing and access background playback features.

YPP completes 20 years in 2026
YouTube launched the Partner Program in 2006; consequently, 2026 marks the program's 20th anniversary. Over the years, the company has made numerous changes to its revenue-sharing policies with creators. Now, for the first time since 2018, significant changes are being made to the YPP terms. The new rules will particularly affect creators looking to start earning revenue from YouTube through ads and subscriptions. For new creators relying on Shorts, the new target of 20 million views is significantly higher than before.

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