YouTube just raised the bar for creators to earn ad revenue

YouTube is increasing the requirements for creators to earn ad revenue through the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). Starting February 1, 2027, new partners must have at least 1,000 subscribers and either 8,000 qualified watch hours from the previous year or 20 million qualified Shorts views within the last 90 days. These changes represent a significant increase in thresholds for monetization, making it more difficult for new creators to qualify for payment from the platform.