Will YouTube's updated policy eliminate AI junk content?
YouTube will update its Partner Program (YPP) monetization policy on July 15, imposing stricter regulations on "non-original" and "non-authentic" content. According to the official YouTube policy update document, this revision aims to better identify mass-produced and repetitive content that has become easier to generate with the rise of AI technology.
According to Techcrunch reports, YouTube has always required creators to upload "original" and "authentic" content to qualify for monetization, but the new guidelines will clarify which types of content can earn money and which cannot. YouTube's editor and creator liaison manager, Rene Ritchie, emphasized that this is just a "slight update" to the long-standing YPP policy, aimed at better identifying mass-produced or repetitive content.
With the widespread use of AI technology, YouTube is flooded with so-called "AI junk content," including photos and video clips voiced over by AI, as well as other repurposed content. This low-quality AI-generated content not only affects the viewing experience but could also damage YouTube's reputation and value.
Image source: YouTube Will YouTube's updated policy eliminate AI junk content?
YouTube's policy overhaul, can Lao Gao no longer experiment?
Famous YouTuber "Lao Gao and Xiao Mo" recently shared an astonishing experimental result in a video. According to CTWANT's report, Lao Gao secretly created a brand-new channel to test the dissemination effect of short videos. He anonymously purchased new equipment and registered the account with a new email to ensure the experiment was not influenced by the original channel's popularity.
The experimental results are quite astonishing. Lao Gao revealed that in less than a week, the mysterious channel's total views exceeded 240 million and attracted over 180,000 subscribers. The fifth short video went viral rapidly, jumping from 40,000 views on the first day to 240,000 the next day, and then skyrocketing to tens of millions of views at an incredible speed.
However, under the influence of YouTube's new policy, these experimental channels that may involve mass production or repetitive content may face challenges to their monetization eligibility in the future. Lao Gao's experimental content creation model may need to reassess its compliance under the new regulations.
Will VTuber Chinese translation channels be affected?
YouTube's policy update has also drawn the attention of the creator community, especially those producing reaction videos, edited content, or translated videos.
For example, the commonly seen "Chinese highlight translation channels" in the VTuber Chinese community usually translate Japanese or English virtual YouTuber (VTuber) live content into Chinese and produce short videos or highlight clips.
Although this type of content provides value in language conversion, if deemed as "repetitive" or "mass-produced," it may face risks to monetization eligibility.
However, according to (Techcrunch) reports, YouTube officials have clarified that this update will not restrict the monetization capabilities of reaction videos or those containing edited segments.
Image source: YouTube Will VTuber Chinese translation channels be affected?
AI junk content crimes may even pose risks of misleading the public.
YouTube emphasizes that repetitive and mass-produced content has long been ineligible for monetization, as audiences typically view it as junk content.
As AI technology makes content production easier, platforms need clearer policies to distinguish valuable creations from purely AI-generated content, which not only has issues of oversaturation but also poses risks of misleading audiences.
Foreign media (404 Media) previously reported that a netizen generated crime case content using AI tools, and one of the videos with over 2 million views made viewers believe it was real, even prompting them to ask local reporters why this case had not been reported, revealing that all cases mentioned by this channel were fake!
Further Reading:
AI version of X investigation? A case channel using ChatGPT to generate fictional cases has attracted over a million views!
'AI junk content rampant! YT modifies video monetization policy, can Lao Gao no longer experiment with business opportunities?' This article was first published in 'Cryptocurrency City.'