Ramdin Consultancy

YouTube's New Monetisation Rules

 
 

in a nutshell…

YouTube’s July 15th, 2025 refresh tightens what can be monetised, who can livestream, and how viewers see ads.
For Caribbean creators (and our audiences), the headline is simple: quality-first content and diversified revenue streams will matter more than ever.

The biggest policy shifts

What changed Effective Why it matters
“Low-effort & AI-slop” demonetisation
Channels built on repetitive stock footage, text-to-speech lists, slide-show compilations or lightly edited AI content lose ad revenue. 15 Jul 2025 You’ll need a clear human voice, original footage, or transformative commentary to stay in YPP.
Minimum age for solo livestreams raised to 16 22 Jul 2025 Under-16 creators must appear with an adult host or move to supervised experiences.
Aggressive ad-blocker detection phase-2 3 Jun 2025 Viewers using most blockers now see blank players or are forced to disable the blocker. Expect higher ad impressions but possible bounce-offs.
Creator Studio “Advanced” analytics overhaul Rolling out since Jun 2025 Deeper geo‐segmented data (great for tracking diaspora views) and Shorts-vs-long-form splits in a cleaner UI.
YouTube Premium price tweaks & two-person plan test Jun-Jul 2025 Premium still isn’t sold in most of the English-speaking Caribbean (Jamaica yes, Trinidad & Tobago no), so ad-free viewing remains a VPN luxury for many subs.

Monetisation landscape (YPP)

Lower “early-access” thresholds still stand
500 subs + 3 public uploads + 3,000 watch-hours or 3 M Shorts views unlock fan-funding tools.
Full ad-revenue share stays at 1,000 subs + 4,000 watch-hours (or 10 M Shorts views).

Availability gap in the Caribbean

  • Jamaica, Cayman Islands, BVI, Turks & Caicos, Dominican Republic – officially supported.

  • Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, etc. – still not on the YPP list.

  • Quality bar just went up
    If a big slice of your catalogue is “top-10 beaches” slideshows voiced by an AI or copied B-roll montages, expect demonetisation reviews. Mix in original footage, interviews, or on-camera commentary to stay safe.'

What this means for Caribbean creators

  1. Lean into authenticity
    Vlogs, cultural explainers, carnival behind-the-scenes, food tours and expert interviews are all considered “significantly original”. Quick wins: add a personalised intro/outro, show yourself on camera, and credit any third-party footage.

  2. Document + disclose AI
    If you do use Gen-AI (scripts, dubbing, generative B-roll), label it clearly in your video description to avoid “inauthentic” flags.

  3. Shorts are still a springboard
    Diaspora audiences snack on Shorts. Use them to hit the 3 M-in-90-days metric, then push your community toward longer content where CPMs are higher.

  4. Bank on multiple revenue lines
    • Channel memberships (once you pass 500 subs)
    • Super Thanks in live chats
    • YouTube Shopping (import-friendly drop-ship tees, Carnival merch)
    • Brand deals – especially travel, fintech and FMCG brands eyeing Caribbean audiences.

  5. Mind your under-16 talent
    If you feature school tours or youth athletes, plan an adult co-host.

What this means for viewers & subscribers

Viewer experience Practical impact in the Caribbean
More ads, fewer blockers Mobile data users will notice; cue backlash in markets where Premium isn’t sold. Creators may see a small CPM lift.
Cleaner recommendations Home-feeds prioritise higher-effort videos, so regional creators who upload polished, story-driven content should surface more often.
Livestream safety Under-16 solo streams disappear, reducing spam but also youth-led content.
Premium price bumps abroad Diaspora viewers in the US/EU face higher costs, which might push them back to ad-supported viewing – again boosting CPMs for Caribbean channels.

Action checklist for your next 90 days

  1. Audit your library – flag any slideshow/AI-voice videos; remake or demonetise them.

  2. Refresh your “About” section – emphasise local, original storytelling to reassure reviewers.

  3. Start an “AdSense + MCN” plan if you’re in a non-YPP island.

  4. Schedule Shorts batches around regional hooks (Independence Day, Emancipation, Carnival band launches).

  5. Educate your audience – a pinned comment explaining ad blockers & supporting creators goes a long way.

  6. Explore shopping integrations – e.g., limited-run “Soca Brainstorm” tees drop-shipped globally.

Staying compliant and compelling will keep Caribbean voices monetised and visible on the world’s biggest video stage.

 
 
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