YouTube making it harder for creators to earn ad money starting 2027

YouTube doubles the requirements for creators to earn ad revenue, starting February 1, 2027. New creators need 1,000 subscribers plus either 8,000 watch hours in the past year (up from 4,000) or 20 million short-video views in 90 days (up from 10 million). Current creators must accept new terms by January 31, 2027, and stay active to keep earning.