YouTube Lowers Requirements for Monetization Program, Expands Shopping Affiliate Access

YouTube is making it easier for creators to access monetization tools by lowering the requirements for the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). Additionally, the company is expanding its shopping affiliate program to more U.S.-based creators with over 20,000 subscribers who are part of YPP.

The Google-owned platform has announced new eligibility criteria for the YPP, which now include having 500 subscribers, three public uploads in the last 90 days, and either 3,000 watch hours in the past year or 3 million Shorts views in the last 90 days. Previously, the requirements were having at least 1,000 subscribers and either 4,000 watch hours in the past year or 10 million Shorts views in the last 90 days. Creators who meet the new threshold can apply to join YPP and gain access to tipping tools such as Super Thanks, Super Chat, and Super Stickers, as well as subscription tools like channel memberships and the ability to promote their merchandise with YouTube Shopping.

While the lowered requirements make it easier for creators to join YPP, the new criterion of three video uploads per 90 days raises questions for long video creators who may not have enough material to produce multiple videos in the given time frame despite generating millions of views. The new eligibility criteria will be applied in the U.S., the U.K., Canada, Taiwan, and South Korea, with plans to roll it out to other countries where YPP is available.

Furthermore, YouTube is expanding its Shopping affiliate pilot to more creators in the U.S. Those who are already part of YPP and have more than 20,000 subscribers will be eligible to tag products in their videos and Shorts, earning a commission in the process. This move comes after the platform introduced shopping-related features for Shorts to some U.S.-based creators last November.

Overall, the lowered requirements for YPP are a welcome change for smaller creators, making monetization tools more accessible. The expansion of the shopping affiliate program will also provide additional income opportunities for eligible creators. As YouTube continues to tweak its policies and programs, it will be interesting to see how these changes impact the platform's ecosystem and creator community.