by Google
YouTube has announced that a new monetization policy update will take effect on July 15, 2025, which could have a major impact on thousands of content creators. The change is intended to reduce the amount of unoriginal, reused, and low-quality content that floods the platform and often unfairly profits from ads. Who will be affected by the new rules? Read more!
Why is YouTube doing this?
While it may seem like a strict measure at first glance, YouTube's goal is simple: to keep the platform high-quality and fair for creators and viewers alike. YouTube wants those who put effort, creativity, and personality into their content to not be disadvantaged compared to those who simply repurpose other people's videos or rely on fully automated creation without their own input.
YouTube is built on an advertising model. Advertisers don't want their ads to appear on low-quality or recycled content. That could jeopardize their brand, and YouTube is well aware of this. Therefore, the platform needs to guarantee that monetized videos meet a certain standard of quality and originality.
In recent years, formats have spread on YouTube that "work for the numbers" but do not bring any real value to viewers. These are mainly generic motivational videos, re-uploads, poorly edited reactions or a mix of videos without context. YouTube wants to encourage creators to focus on adding their own voice, ideas, or style, which will improve the quality of the entire platform.
What content is now considered risky?
YouTube is tightening its rules for content that is not original enough or does not add value to the viewer starting in July 2025. While some formats will not be automatically banned, they will be subject to more scrutiny and may be denied monetization.
1. AI-generated videos without personal input
Creating an entire video using only AI without adding your own voice, commentary, or context.
Example: A video that is entirely written by ChatomGPT, narrated by a synthetic voice, and supplemented with stock footage, without any authorial reflection or editing.
2. Reaction videos with minimal commentary
The so-called. "lazy reactions" the creator plays someone else's video and occasionally smiles or says one word, or doesn't react at all.
Example: A video where you just sit in front of the screen and watch TikTok, without any comment or thought.
3. Compilations without your own contribution
Combining multiple videos or clips without adding your own content, context, commentary, or editing.
Example: A "Top 10 fails" video composed entirely of downloaded clips from TikTok or YouTube Shorts, no intro, no voiceover, no editing.
4. Faceless channels built only on stock footage or a repeated template
Channels that use pre-made templates, always the same format, stock videos and AI voice without visible authorial input.
Example: "Motivational channel", where there are constant stock videos of bodies in the gym, music from the library and an AI voice reading quotes without further commentary.
5. Videos without story, context, voice, or intent
YouTube is starting to judge the "meaningfulness" of content more.
If a video can't answer the question: "Why should someone watch this?", there's a problem.
Example: A video with no subtitles, no commentary, no narration, no face... just a sequence of images.
If a creator in these formats doesn't make an effort to add their own perspective, voice, or editing, YouTube will increasingly flag them as a policy violator and deny them the opportunity to earn money.
What's happening? What happens if your content doesn't meet the requirements?
YouTube is tightening its review of applications for entry into the YouTube Partner Program as part of a new update and is also reviewing existing channels. If the algorithm or manual reviewer evaluates your content as unoriginal or of little benefit, the following may happen:
Loss of monetization (demonetization) - If you are already in the Partner Program, but YouTube finds that your content violates the new rules, you may be disabled from monetization. This means that your videos can continue to play, but you will not receive any advertising, membership or SuperChat revenue from them.
Disapproval for the YouTube Partner Program - If you are trying to get monetized for the first time, and your channel contains compilations, AI-generated content, reactions without comments or is “faceless” without clear authorship, YouTube may reject you, even if you have 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours - conditions that would normally be sufficient.
Deletion channel?
In extreme cases, if YouTube evaluates a channel as a repeat infringer or as an automated spam project, the entire channel may be canceled.
However, this mainly applies to those who create mass content generated through AI or scrape other people's videos.
What content is safe?
In its statement and updated guide for creators, YouTube emphasizes three main criteria: effort, originality and value for the viewer.
It's not a problem if you create with the help of AI, use templates or stock footage, the problem arises when when you don't show any personal contribution. Therefore, if you want to be sure that your content will be approved for monetization, it is worth focusing on the following formats: vlogs and personal stories, videos with your own voice, content where the creator appears in the picture, as well as educational or commented videos. The use of AI is allowed as long as the resulting content is transformed and supplemented with your own commentary, editing or context.
The decision will often be made by an algorithm
YouTube will not always provide an exact reason for rejection or demonetization. It will often be an automated process that evaluates that your content is "low effort" or "reused". Creators may receive a general notice without a specific explanation, making it difficult to appeal or remedy.
Is this a threat or an opportunity for creators?
While the new rules may seem strict at first glance, they are not a reason to panic, rather a challenge to take your content to the next level. YouTube is not trying to punish creators, but to protect the quality of the platform and fairly reward those who deserve it.
If you have been responsible in your creation so far, with your own contribution, commentary, voice, or original ideas, you have nothing to worry about. On the contrary, YouTube wants to give you more space by limiting competition in the form of automated or inauthentic videos.
On the other hand, if you have been building content exclusively on templates, stocks, AI output, or without personal input, it's time to rethink your strategy. The key is not to stop using modern tools, but to know how to use them creatively.
