"Significant revision": YouTube updates requirements for creators to make money
This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.
- YouTube announced it is raising entry requirements for its Partner Programme starting February 1, 2027, marking the first major revision since 2018
- New applicants will need 8,000 watch hours or 20 million Shorts views, exactly double the current thresholds
- The changes could make the path to monetisation significantly harder for smaller Kenyan channels that rely on Shorts
YouTube is set to make it considerably harder for creators to start earning money through its Partner Programme, with sweeping changes to the entry requirements coming into effect on February 1, 2027.
From that date, anyone applying to join the programme for the first time will need at least 1,000 subscribers, plus either 8,000 qualified public watch hours accumulated over the previous 365 days or 20 million qualified Shorts views within the preceding 90 days.
Both the watch hour and Shorts view thresholds are exactly double what the platform currently demands. The 1,000-subscriber minimum remains unchanged.
YouTube described the update as the first significant revision to the programme's entry conditions since 2018, framing it as a move to ensure that monetization continues to go to creators with active, growing audiences.
The platform pointed to the sheer scale of its current ecosystem as context for the decision, noting that more than three million creators are already enrolled in the Partner Programme, that over 200 billion Shorts views are recorded daily, and that viewers globally watch more than one billion hours of content on television every single day.
What Changes for Existing Shorts Creators
Creators who are already inside the Partner Programme face a separate new condition if they want to keep drawing income from Shorts.
Beginning in February 2027, they will need to record at least 10 million qualified Shorts views within any 90-day period to remain eligible for Shorts advertising and subscription revenue sharing.
Channels that slip below that mark will not lose their place in the programme entirely.
They will continue earning from long-form content, and Shorts revenue sharing will switch back on automatically once the 10 million-view threshold is crossed again.
Critically, existing members will not be subjected to the new joining requirements, which only apply to fresh applicants.
What This Means for Kenyan Creators
The shift is a departure from YouTube's more recent push to broaden access to monetization.
The platform had previously introduced a lower entry tier requiring just 500 subscribers, three uploads within any 90-day window, and either 3,000 watch hours over 12 months or three million Shorts views in 90 days.
For Kenyan creators, particularly smaller channels that lean heavily on Shorts to build visibility and accumulate views, the doubled thresholds raise a significant barrier.
Reaching 20 million Shorts views within 90 days demands a level of consistent output and audience reach that many emerging creators are still working towards.
Established Kenyan creators with large followings and audiences in high-value advertising markets are likely to feel less disruption. For them, the new bar may already be well within reach.
YouTube’s updated rules place greater emphasis on consistent audience engagement and sustained channel performance, rather than relying on occasional viral success as the platform’s creator community expands.
Snapshot of requirements
YouTube monetization requirements from February 1, 2027
- 1,000 subscribers
- 8,000 qualified public watch hours in the previous 365 days OR
- 20 million qualified Shorts views in the previous 90 days
- These requirements apply to new creators seeking ad and YouTube Premium revenue sharing.
Shorts creators already in YPP
- 10 million qualified Shorts views in the previous 90 days to continue earning Shorts revenue.
- Creators below the threshold remain in YPP and can continue earning from long-form content.
Lower YPP tier
- 500 subscribers
- 3 public uploads in the last 90 days
- 3,000 qualified public watch hours in 12 months OR
- 3 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days.
How Much Does YouTube Pay in Kenya? Everything Creators Need to Know
TUKO.co.ke previously reported on how Kenyan content creators make money through YouTube, explaining the platform’s monetization system and the factors that influence earnings.
The article noted that income varies depending on factors such as views, audience location, niche, watch time and engagement, rather than simply the number of subscribers.
Kenyan creators can earn through advertising, YouTube Premium, channel memberships, Super Chats, Super Thanks, Shopping and brand partnerships.
The report also highlighted that creators targeting audiences in markets such as the US can potentially earn more because advertising rates vary by audience location.
Source: Legit.ng
Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.