In a notice shared with creators, the platform said it would more clearly define and begin enforcing new restrictions on content it considers “mass-produced” or “repetitious” under its updated monetisation guidelines. These changes are intended to refine how YouTube evaluates what qualifies as original and authentic content for earning revenue through the YouTube Partner Program (YPP).
Survey“YouTube has always required creators to upload ‘original’ and ‘authentic’ content,” the company said in its announcement. “This update better reflects what ‘inauthentic’ content looks like today.”
Targeting low-effort, high-volume formats
YouTube is now singling out two specific types of content:
- Mass-produced videos, likely referring to templated or outsourced content generated at scale
- Repetitious uploads, which may include multiple versions of the same video or lightly edited re-uploads of previously published material
While these types of videos may not have explicitly violated the platform’s earlier rules, YouTube says they fall short of the platform’s standards for originality and meaningful viewer engagement.
Here’s the full note from YouTube:
[July 2025] Updates to YouTube Partner Program (YPP) Monetization policies: In order to monetize as part of the YouTube Partner Program (YPP), YouTube has always required creators to upload “original” and “authentic” content. On July 15, 2025, YouTube is updating our guidelines to better identify mass-produced and repetitious content. This update better reflects what “inauthentic” content looks like today.
What this means for creators
Channels producing high-quality, original work are unlikely to be affected by the change. However, creators who rely on automation tools or frequently publish near-duplicate videos may need to revise their content strategy.
YouTube is offering a lead time of several weeks before enforcement begins, giving creators the opportunity to audit their channels and adapt accordingly. Those who fail to comply risk suspension or removal from the monetisation programme.
What remains unclear is exactly how YouTube will define “mass-produced” or “repetitious” content in practice. The company has said more guidance will follow ahead of the July 15 rollout.
A broader push for content quality
This move fits into a broader trend of platforms reassessing what types of content they want to promote or monetise. As generative AI and automation become more accessible, concerns around low-effort content flooding platforms have intensified.
For now, all eyes will be on July 15, when YouTube is expected to provide more detail on how enforcement will be handled and what creators need to watch out for.
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Mithun Mohandas
Mithun Mohandas is an Indian technology journalist with 14 years of experience covering consumer technology. He is currently employed at Digit in the capacity of a Managing Editor. Mithun has a background in Computer Engineering and was an active member of the IEEE during his college days. He has a penchant for digging deep into unravelling what makes a device tick. If there's a transistor in it, Mithun's probably going to rip it apart till he finds it. At Digit, he covers processors, graphics cards, storage media, displays and networking devices aside from anything developer related. As an avid PC gamer, he prefers RTS and FPS titles, and can be quite competitive in a race to the finish line. He only gets consoles for the exclusives. He can be seen playing Valorant, World of Tanks, HITMAN and the occasional Age of Empires or being the voice behind hundreds of Digit videos. View Full Profile
