Bad News for YouTubers: Earning Money Becomes More Challenging with New Monetization Policy

Islamabad: YouTube has announced a major change in its monetization policy, which will come into effect from July 15, 2025.
According to international media reports, YouTube has tightened its Partner Program monetization rules, making it harder for creators to earn revenue. Under the new policy, risks are increasing for content that is unoriginal, reshared, or AI-generated.
The aim of the new monetization policy is to discourage substandard, unoriginal, and mass-produced AI content while promoting authentic and creative material. YouTube clarified that content created by AI or material that lacks originality will no longer be eligible for monetization.
The new terms also specify that reshared or unverified content will not be monetized, though the platform has yet to define the exact criteria for such content. Experts believe that these changes primarily target gaming channels without face cams or channels relying heavily on AI-generated voices and characters.
Previously, YouTube required content creators to have 1,000 subscribers, 4,000 watch hours in the last 12 months, or 10 million views on shorts within 90 days to monetize their channel. Under the updated rules, creators will also need to ensure that their content is original and of high quality.
Once a YouTuber meets these criteria, YouTube reviews the channel before granting monetization rights. After a channel is approved for monetization, earnings vary based on the viewer’s country, the video’s topic, and the season. Generally, CPM (cost per 1,000 views) can range from $0.50 to $10, but the actual earnings (RPM) are usually lower as YouTube takes a share.