"They Pay Best": YouTube Raises Monetisation Requirements, Creator Shares Chance to Catch Up

• Nigerian content creator mimi_ojieh warned aspiring YouTubers about a major platform update taking effect on 1 February 2027
• YouTube doubled its watch-hour requirement from 4,000 to 8,000 hours, while Shorts view counts jumped from 10 million to 20 million
• The creator urged new YouTubers to use the five months remaining to hit the targets before the deadline kicks in

A Nigerian content creator is sounding the alarm for anyone still sitting on the fence about starting a YouTube channel. In a video posted on 12 August 2026, Instagram creator @mimi_ojieh broke down a significant change to YouTube's monetisation policy that will affect new creators. Starting 1 February 2027, the threshold to qualify for YouTube's Partner Programme will increase, meaning aspiring content creators have roughly five months to get their numbers up.

The subscriber count stays the same at 1,000, but the watch hour requirement doubles from 4,000 to 8,000 hours. For creators focused on YouTube Shorts, the required short-form views jump from 10 million to 20 million. Mimi_ojieh was clear that these changes only affect creators who are not yet monetised. Anyone already in the Partner Programme will not be impacted.

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She also cleared up a common misconception: watch hours are not the same as views. "Many people confuse watch hours with views," she said, adding that 8,000 watch hours reflects total time spent watching content, a far more demanding benchmark. Mimi_ojieh shared that she herself reached monetisation within three months by treating it seriously from day one. Her message to new creators was blunt: the next five months need to count. "If you are serious with yourself, you better take this between now and that February very seriously," she said.

She also pointed to a broader pattern, noting that platforms including Facebook have consistently raised their monetisation bars over time, and that creators who delay are simply handing those platforms the advantage. Watch the video that sparked the conversation:

Creators discuss YouTube update

Followers flooded the comments with a mix of concern and encouragement:

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@the.sunshine.oluoha wrote:

"They did this to push creators to post more and focus on their app. Watch how a lot of creators are going to dedicatively post on YouTube up until Feb just to hit the monetization criteria. And thereby prioritize making YouTube over various apps again. Mind you of all the platforms, YouTube pays best."

@iam_oneight said:

"For those of you who want to start your own YouTube channel, don't be discouraged, forge on. Targets may be higher but they are achievable. Stay true and stay original."

@novelettebywinnie shared:

"Who wants to subscribe to each other's YouTube? I'm a new YouTuber, let's do it together 🫶🏾"

@iamsamaaar added:

"Thank God I have been monetised, but what about my peers who aren't 😢"

Other Briefly News stories about side-hustles

• A South African man known as @sbalcool_k has taken to TikTok to reveal his lawn mowing earnings and inspire others to pursue similar hustles.
• Chioma Nkhubedu, a South African content creator, shared a video detailing affordable sources for essentials for budding entrepreneurs.
• A YouTube creator revealed staggering earnings of over R360,000 in January, leaving many South Africans amazed by the financial potential of digital content creation.

Source: Briefly News