YouTube is addressing the concerns raised by content creators regarding a forthcoming update to its monetization policies. Recent communications from YouTube regarding changes on “inauthentic” content within the YouTube Partner Program sparked fears that a broader range of videos, especially those incorporating AI-generated elements or reactions, would face demonetization. In light of the backlash, YouTube aims to clarify its position.
In its initial message about the updates, YouTube reiterated that it has long mandated creators to produce “original” and “authentic” content. The platform stated, “As of July 15, 2025, we will be refining our guidelines to more effectively identify content that is mass-produced or repetitious, aligning our definitions of ‘inauthentic’ content with current standards.”
Rene Ritchie, YouTube’s editorial head, elaborated through a video that the upcoming policy modifications are a “minor update” to the existing monetization guidelines. He emphasized that creators already needed to significantly alter any unoriginal content in their uploads. According to Ritchie, the newly introduced language will enhance the platform’s ability to identify mass-produced or repetitive content, which has long been deemed ineligible for monetization and often perceived by audiences as spam.
On Thursday, YouTube also released a support document that seeks to answer prevalent questions regarding the changes. The document clarifies that there will be “no alterations to our reused content policies,” which cover commentary and reaction content.
The specifics of the updated policy have yet to be unveiled. Nonetheless, defining what qualifies for monetization could potentially mitigate the influx of low-quality, mass-produced AI content that has been proliferating on the platform. The accessibility of AI technology allows users to generate subpar content easily, resulting in videos that frequently mix taken clips with AI-generated narrations, alongside channels focused on promoting poorly made AI-generated videos, despite YouTube’s standards requiring monetized content to be “original and authentic.”
In response to an X user’s speculation that the updates might eliminate monetization for fully AI-generated videos, YouTube clarified that enhancing content with AI remains permissible, provided it adheres to all policy stipulations. The hope is that the clarifications regarding what constitutes “mass-produced or repetitive” content will effectively reduce the amount of spam flooding YouTube feeds.
Update, July 10th: A link to a new support document from YouTube has been added.
