It just became more difficult to monetise your videos on YouTube, with the video streaming service’s tightening the requirements to become part of the YouTube Partner Program (YPP).

Instead of the previous 10 000 lifetime views a channel required, it now needs 4 000 hours of watch-time within in the past 12 months, and a minimum of 1 000 subscribers. According to a YouTube blog post, this was done to so that “spammers, impersonators, and other bad actors can’t hurt our ecosystem.”

YouTube caught slack last year, when it came to light that channels that promoted violence and terrorism were making money through the YPP. At the end of 2017, YouTube was also criticised for not-suitable-for-kids content that was promoted for children.

The new changes will affect channels who are already part of the YPP, with 20 February 2018 the start date for when the new limits will take effect. YPP partners who do not make the cut will have thirty days to meet the requirements. The company notes that although it will limit a number of partners, 90% of these made less than $2.50 during the last month.

YouTube states that the new requirements will “significantly” improve its ability to not only identify real content creators, but also to funnel money away from bad apples.