YouTube lowers affiliate threshold to attract smaller creators

YouTube is making it easier for smaller creators to earn money through affiliate links, in its latest move to make its platform more accessible at all levels.

The platform has lowered the subscriber requirement for its shopping affiliate programme from 1,000 to 500 – allowing smaller creators to access earning tools earlier.

It’s the latest in a string of moves by platforms to bring affiliate tools in-house. Last week, Meta expanded its affiliate tools across Instagram and Facebook to enable creators to earn commissions by embedding shopping links in their content – removing the need for link-in-bio pages entirely.

The change allows creators in the YouTube Partner Program to tag products across Shorts, video-on-demand and live content, earning commissions when viewers make purchases. Audiences can shop directly without leaving the platform.

YouTube said the update will also help creators build stronger relationships with their audiences by reinforcing their role as a trusted voice for product recommendations.

As previously reported by The Daily Influence, the shift raises questions about the long-term role of third-party affiliate companies as platforms increasingly move commerce inside their own ecosystems.