YouTube today, July 15, 2025, has made significant changes to its Partner Program (YPP) rules. Having a large number of subscribers and views on a channel alone will no longer be sufficient for monetization.
Technology: As of July 15, 2025, YouTube has implemented major changes to its Partner Program (YPP). Earning money from YouTube will no longer be as easy as before, especially for creators who were relying on Artificial Intelligence (AI) or repetitive content to earn more money in a short amount of time.
Now, monetization will not be based solely on views and subscribers; the quality, originality, and authenticity of the content will be equally important.
YouTube's Stricter Stance on AI and Repetitive Content
In recent months, there has been a surge of channels on YouTube that were uploading videos quickly using stock photos, video clips, and AI voiceovers. These videos contained no new information or creativity. They were simply presenting content lifted from the internet without any changes.
YouTube believes that AI-generated and repetitive content not only degrades the viewer experience but also harms genuine and hardworking creators. For this reason, YouTube has made significant changes to its policies regarding AI content and low-quality content.
What is YouTube's New Policy?
1. Work Will No Longer Be Based Solely on Subscribers and Views
- Previously, to join YouTube's Partner Program, one needed:
- 1,000 subscribers
- 4,000 hours of watch time
- or
- 10 million Shorts views in 90 days.
But now, it will also be assessed whether the content is unique, authentic, and high-quality.
2. Monetization Will Be Reduced on AI and Inauthentic Content
- Under the new policy, if a channel's content is:
- AI-generated
- Repetitive
- Inauthentic (fake or misleading)
YouTube may reduce that channel's earnings or completely shut down monetization.
Which Creators Will Be Affected?
This change will most affect those YouTubers who create videos without much effort, by using information from the internet or using stock footage and AI voices. The earnings of channels that are posting many videos daily using only AI and useless scripts may see a sharp decline. YouTube will also keep an eye on Content Reuse (repeated use of the same content). This will also impact channels that are:
- News clips,
- Famous sports moments,
- Movie scenes,
- or re-uploading edited pre-existing content repeatedly.
What is YouTube's Goal?
YouTube says that the aim of this policy is to encourage creators to make better, more original, and creative content. The quality of content on the platform has been declining due to the rapid growth of AI-based content and the copy-paste culture in recent times.
YouTube wants that:
- Viewers get unique and trustworthy content.
- Genuine creators who work hard get a chance to move forward.
- Fake, AI-generated, and spam content are curbed.
How Will the YouTube Ecosystem Be Affected?
- Are working on unique ideas.
- Are working hard in front of the camera to create content.
- Are making research-based, informative, and original videos.
- Are prioritizing quality.
Channels that will be affected are those who...
- Were using AI voices, AI videos without a purpose.
- Were repeatedly posting edited content from the internet.
- Were making fake news, misleading, or inauthentic videos.
YouTube's Strict Warning
- YouTube has made it clear that if any channel:
- Repeatedly violates the policy
- Tries to gain views with false information or AI content
- That channel's monetization may be completely shut down.
- May also be permanently removed from YouTube.
New Era Begins, Quality Will Be King
From July 15, 2025, YouTube's rule is clear: Just having 1,000 subscribers or 10 million Shorts views will not be enough. If your content is not of quality, not authentic, and repeatedly shows the same things, your earnings will be directly affected.
