YouTube Tests Monthly Bonuses for "Shorts" Creators Up to $2,000

YouTube has begun testing a three-month, invite-only monthly bonus program for a select group of "Shorts" creators in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Brazil, Japan, and South Korea.

According to a screenshot shared by an app researcher on X and reported by MediaPost, a participating creator needs to publish at least 16 public Shorts per month, with the potential to earn between $300 and $2,000 monthly, provided they remain eligible for monetization at the end of that same month.

MediaPost clarified that these conditions serve as an example rather than universal requirements for all participants. Creators need to accept the bonus opportunity once to begin receiving monthly payouts over its duration.

The test follows an update to YouTube's Shorts algorithm earlier in October aimed at reducing the reach of republished content from other creators without original added value, as well as a tool launched in September to organize shorts into seasons and episodes. The program aims to encourage original content, a consistent posting schedule, and help newer creators monetize.

What Do These Terms Mean?

Monthly Bonus: A fixed or variable amount paid by the platform to a creator in exchange for meeting specific conditions during the month, such as video count or performance level.

Original Content: Material created by the creator themselves or to which they add new value, rather than merely copying and reposting someone else's content.

Monetization: Qualifying a creator to earn revenue from ads, subscriptions, or platform bonuses, which typically requires compliance with its policies.