Prime Highlights
- YouTube rolls out tighter monetisation policies focusing on AI-created and duplicated content, from July 15, 2025.
- Original, human-created content alone will qualify for monetisation through the new YouTube Partner Program.
Key Fact
- The new policy focuses on low-value, copied, or bulk-produced videos independent of subscriber or view numbers.
- Creators will now need to produce original, compelling content that creates real value to continue being monetised.
Key Background
YouTube is implementing a significant overhaul to its Partner Program starting July 15, 2025, meant to stem the surging tide of automated, low-effort videos on the site. Where monetisation has always depended on originality, loose enforcement let many creators take advantage of loopholes with AI software, template videos, and slideshow compilations.
The new policy specifically bars content that does not involve significant creative effort, including:
- Videos made with minimal or no human narration or presence,
- Slideshows, stock clips, or automated script-generated reuse across channels,
- Trivial editing of third-party videos without conversion.
YouTube explains that AI-generated content is not prohibited but needs to be meaningfully combined with original commentary, personal opinions, or original storytelling. Channels using synthetic media or surface editing exclusively are at risk of complete demonetisation even if they satisfy subscriber and view-time requirements.
This crackdown will help raise the quality standards of the platform and secure advertisers’ trust in what they’re sponsoring. With a million videos uploaded every day, YouTube has an urgency to meet “AI slop” — content that fills up feeds, provides no value, and lowers the user experience.
Eligible monetized content under the new guidelines are:
- Educational tutorials with direct creator involvement,
- Entertainment content involving the creator’s voice, presence, and editing
- Videos that embody personal creativity, understanding, and value added above repackaged content.
The revised policy reaffirms YouTube’s dedication to authenticity of content, so that the human element continues to be at the center of the monetisation system.
