“YouTube has always required creators to upload ‘original’ and ‘authentic’ content,” YouTube said in its initial notification about the policy change. “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.”

The company is clarifying what it has called a minor change in how it pays video creators that could have big implications for viewers.

YouTube will enforce new rules from 15 July, ending monetisation for low-effort AI content. Creators must now prioritise originality to stay eligible.