Starting from July 15, 2025, YouTube’s updated monetization guidelines will focus on restricting low-effort, mass-produced, or repetitive content. This update rewards original, high-quality creators while limiting earnings for channels that post reused or AI-generated content on their YouTube channels.
What’s Changing in the YouTube Partner Program (YPP)?
To keep earning ad revenue, creators must follow very strict authenticity rules:
- Original content only. That means you cannot just re-upload someone else’s content. Even borrowed clips should not be just slightly edited. And, you should always give credit to the original creator when the credit is due.
- No meaningless content. There won’t be any tolerance for mindless content that is repetitive. That could be anything from the same thumbnail style (such as shocked face, arrows, etc.), compilations like try not to laugh, spamming the same type of shorts (for instance, Day 41 of an XYZ challenge), or reaction videos with zero commentary. Your YouTube videos must be both entertaining and educational, not just view-grabbing. Therefore, you need to do more than just chase views.
- No shortcuts. AI-generated voices, clickbait, and templated content can face restrictions. So, there won’t be any monetization for AI-generated voices reading Reddit AITA stories over some Minecraft video. Similarly, you can also expect penalties if you use clickbait-y titles or thumbnails. The reason for this is that clickbait is almost always misleading; your audience might feel cheated, and they are likely not coming back to your channel. Templated content is the content that you can create on pre-designed templates. These videos follow the exact same formula with minimal changes and are extremely low effort. A good example is reaction videos, where the YouTuber offers no opinions or insights and simply sits silently. It is time for creators to understand that a one-size-fits-all formula is not going to work on YouTube anymore.
Who Still Qualifies for Monetization?
The basic YPP requirements are still the same:
- 1,000+ subscribers
- 4,000+ watch hours (past year) OR 10M+ Shorts views (last 90 days)
But now, even if you meet these, YouTube can deny monetization of your content if your content comes off as inauthentic or uncreative.
How Will This Affect Creators?
- AI-based channels: Videos with AI voices or minimal editing could lose monetization.
- Repetitive content: Reaction channels, compilation makers, and spam creators should also think about changing their content creation strategy.
- Clickbait and templated videos: Overused formats with little to no real value could get flagged.
YouTube has not yet confirmed penalties, but channels violating these rules can definitely lose ad revenue if they don’t comply with the program.
What Should Creators Do Now?
- Go old school, brainstorm, and come up with original ideas. Even if your idea is not original, your spin on the topic should be uniquely yours. For example, if you are a true crime creator, you should not just re-upload clips or videos from the case you are covering. You must also share your opinion, perspective, and add your own commentary.
- Do not unnecessarily use AI tools. Artificial intelligence is pretty amazing if you know how to use it right. You can no longer use AI tools to replace creativity, but instead, enhance it. It can help you think about new content ideas, organize your thoughts, and create a content calendar for your channel. But, do not use it for tasks that require human intelligence. Like, voice-overs, fake thumbnails with AI-generated images, and AI-generated mindless shorts with no intent in sight.
- Always check YouTube’s guidelines regularly, as we know, social platforms constantly update their policies. You should stay updated on what counts as “repetitive”, “spam,” or “mass-produced.” If you are truly passionate about being a YouTube content creator and you want to play this game, then you have to play by the house’s rules. It is not only smart but also keeps you way ahead of your potential competitors who might not be as quick to pay attention.
These guidelines were followed by YouTube’s recent ban on unsupervised live streams for users who are under 16 years of age. That shows that YouTube means business and is serious about pushing for higher-quality, responsible content.
What is Next For Your YouTube Channel?
So, if you already make original and engaging videos that offer some sort of value to the audience, you’re safe. But if you were still expecting the same old, quick, recycled content to work and bring you money, it’s time to rethink your content plan and strategy.
Audit your YouTube channel and understand what content needs to be deleted, improved, edited, or reuploaded. Ditch what’s not working, fix what could be better. Find your unique voice and think about what can YOU add that no one else can? Consistent posting does bring results but remember to prefer quality over quantity. One awesome video beats ten mediocre ones.
Do you have a creator’s block and no idea where to start? We get it. At B My Marketer, we help creators produce videos people actually want to watch. Whether you need help with video editing, writing engaging scripts, or creating a content calendar, our experts are here to help. Our goal is not just to bring you views on YouTube, but to establish you as an authority in your niche, turn you into a brand, and garner loyal followers. Contact us and start today!
