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Key takeaways

• YouTube will raise the entry threshold for new creator monetization.

• New creators must meet 8,000 qualified watch hours in 12 months or 20 million Shorts views in 90 days.

• The change starts on February 1.

• Creators already in the YouTube Partner Program are not affected.

• The source does not state a Morocco-specific policy.

What changed

TechCrunch reported on 2026-08-10 that YouTube will double the threshold for new creators who want to start earning. The new requirement is 8,000 qualified watch hours over the past year or 20 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days. That is up from 4,000 watch hours or 10 million Shorts views.

The change applies to new creators. It does not affect creators already in the YouTube Partner Program. The source says the change starts on February 1.

What the rule means

This is a higher bar for entry into monetization. New creators will need more audience activity before they can earn through the program. The rule gives creators two paths, but both paths now require more scale.

The watch-hour path measures long-form viewing over a 12-month period. The Shorts path measures views over a 90-day period. The source does not explain how YouTube will apply any other eligibility checks.

Why this matters for creators

For new creators, the main effect is timing. It may take longer to qualify for monetization. That can affect planning for content schedules, audience growth, and revenue expectations.

For creators already inside the program, the reported change does not alter their current status. That makes the update more relevant to people who are still building toward eligibility. It also matters to teams that plan around platform revenue as part of their business model.

Operational considerations

Creators may need to track performance more closely. They should watch both watch hours and Shorts views if they use both formats. The higher threshold may also push some creators to focus on one format first.

The source does not provide guidance on strategy, and it does not mention any appeals process. So any planning here is an assumption, not a reported recommendation. The safest reading is simple: the entry bar is higher, and new creators must plan for that.

Morocco relevance

The source reports no Morocco-specific policy. For readers in Morocco, the global lesson is conditional: if your revenue plan depends on platform monetization, higher thresholds can delay income.

Bottom line

YouTube is making it harder for new creators to start earning. The change is clear, the date is set, and existing Partner Program members are not affected. For anyone building on YouTube, the key issue is reaching the new threshold sooner and planning for a longer runway.