YouTube has announced that it is lowering the eligibility requirements for its YouTube Partner Program (YPP) to 500 subscribers. Previously, creators needed to have 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the past year to be eligible for the YPP.
The new eligibility requirements will take effect on June 20, 2023, for creators in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Taiwan, and South Korea. YouTube will roll out the new requirements to other countries over time.
In addition to lowering the subscriber requirement, YouTube is also changing the watch hour requirement for the YPP. Creators will now need to have 3,000 watch hours in the past year or 3 million Shorts views in the last 90 days to be eligible.
YouTube says that the changes are being made to “make it easier for more creators to earn money from their content.” The company also says that the changes will help to “diversify the creator community and ensure that more voices are heard.”
The changes to the YPP have been met with mixed reactions from creators. Some creators have welcomed the changes, saying that they will make it easier for smaller creators to earn money from their content. Other creators have expressed concerns that the changes will lead to a decrease in the quality of content on YouTube.
Only time will tell how the changes to the YPP will impact the platform. However, it is clear that YouTube is committed to making it easier for more creators to earn money from their content.