---
title: 'Is YouTube Making It Harder to Monetize?'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=0wIVIOpqxS4'
video_id: '0wIVIOpqxS4'
date: 2026-08-04
duration_sec: 846
---

# Is YouTube Making It Harder to Monetize?

> Source: [Is YouTube Making It Harder to Monetize?](https://youtube.com/watch?v=0wIVIOpqxS4)

## Summary

The video is a commentary on recent YouTube changes that the creator believes are making it harder for content creators to monetize and drive traffic to their own platforms. The creator discusses YouTube's removal of links from Shorts, a new middle page for descriptions, and a feature that skips sponsored segments, arguing these changes benefit viewers but hurt creators. He also mentions rumored AI results in search and provides solutions like using custom domains and owned assets to maintain control over audience traffic.

### Key Points

- **Introduction and Discomfort with YouTube Changes** [00:00] — The creator states that the video covers his opinions, some of which make him uncomfortable, about recent YouTube changes.
- **Removal of Links from Shorts** [00:25] — YouTube removed the ability to link from the Shorts shelf to long-form videos, which the creator believes was done to keep viewers on Shorts, potentially reducing conversions to long-form content.
- **New Middle Page for Descriptions** [01:22] — On desktop, clicking the description now opens a middle page showing only the top part, requiring an extra click to see the full description. This adds friction for viewers trying to access links.
- **Channel Links Feature Impact** [02:31] — The channel links feature is now less intuitive, only suggesting the first link without scrolling, making it harder for viewers to find other links.
- **Extra Steps Reduce Actions** [03:11] — Adding extra steps to access links reduces the likelihood of viewers taking those actions, as they lose interest along the way.
- **New Skip Feature for Sponsored Segments** [04:14] — YouTube is testing a feature that allows viewers to skip sponsored segments, similar to a plugin, based on where most people skip. This could hurt creators who rely on sponsor revenue.
- **Impact on Sponsor Retention** [05:21] — During sponsored segments, retention often drops, and this feature could make it worse by skipping those parts entirely, reducing the value of sponsor placements.
- **Concern for Ad Reads** [06:12] — For creators who do dedicated ad reads, this feature could be a big problem, as it might skip those segments, reducing the effectiveness of sponsor deals.
- **Rumored AI Results in Search** [07:07] — YouTube may be testing AI-generated results in search, which could show AI answers instead of creator videos, potentially reducing traffic to creators.
- **Solutions: Custom Domains** [08:41] — The creator suggests using custom domains (e.g., NickNimmin.com) to drive traffic to owned properties, bypassing YouTube's link restrictions.
- **Buying Domain Names for Redirects** [10:24] — Creators can buy domain names (e.g., tryopusnow.com) and set up wildcard redirects to send viewers directly to affiliate links, providing a workaround.
- **Using Link Trees and Owned Assets** [11:18] — Creators should maintain link trees and owned assets (like websites) to ensure they can drive revenue even if YouTube changes its policies.
- **Long-Term Strategy: Own Your Content** [12:55] — The creator advises building an archive of content on owned platforms to protect against potential YouTube changes, ensuring long-term revenue.

### Conclusion

The creator believes YouTube's changes are viewer-centric but detrimental to creators' ability to monetize and drive traffic. He recommends building owned assets like custom domains and websites to maintain control and ensure long-term revenue.

## Transcript

to talk about are my opinions Some of them make me a little bit uncomfortable. and I'm sure everything's gonna be fine,
it's just making me a little bit uncomfortable with some of these changes that YouTube is making. to link anything from the YouTube Short shelf,
in time was that it was for the sake of the reasons that they took that away. to a long form video from Shorts,
because then the same thing could be accomplished, for a really long time, and I understand that it can impact conversions
that Short click on that link, go to that next video, so it's a longer process, But, I'm sure that it does drastically cut down
But that shopping link that they added, that felt a little bit shady. Let's get into the new stuff that I'm really worried about.
on desktop computers and it makes it more difficult I open this live stream from the Lofi Everyday channel, I understand it's live and they wanna show activity
However, in order to get to the description now, First time this happened to me, but once you click that,
which you would think would open the description, YouTube shows the top part of the description, But then you have to click on see more
And look, I know that this middle page is so that are made on the content that somebody is watching. to where it might show recommended Shorts
I'm not sure yet. to drive long form viewers into YouTube Shorts, to take in order to get to the descriptions.
that if you are using the channel links feature from Brioni Faith's livestream, and only really suggests the first link without scrolling.
that it's not very intuitive So technically, you can take your mouse but it's not super clear when you're there.
So because of that, if you are using your channel links, that's gonna be prominent in that spot. This process of adding extra steps
where they might not even be there, creates extra steps Or, when you tell people in your video, for them to get there because there's more things in the way
And, it's a process to actually get there. for a long time, and one of the things that you learn it starts making it where less people take those actions
somewhere along the process, they just kinda lose interest for anybody that has sponsored content And this isn't just live streams,
The only difference is that when somebody enters the video, But wait, it gets worse. In the blog post, they say, "It's now much easier
Now, when you double tap to skip ahead, that will take you right where you wanna go. and viewership data, is now available
And good news for iOS users, I wanna talk about what's happening here. and we all know that YouTube is designed for the viewers,
But this feature is extremely similar to a plugin to skip sponsored spots of videos. So basically, when somebody clicks
is that it skips them past the part but just that most people are skipping through. where most people stopped apparently,
at that moment in time, which if we think of how that works, and it might be a really big problem Let me explain.
and having worked with other people one thing that I can say is that during sponsored segments, So in some cases you'll see, a lot of cases actually,
then the retention will start to go down to after the sponsor message ends. A lot of people still watch those sponsored messages.
and those are typically the most skipped part in a video, this tells me that this particular feature is going of the sponsored messages in our content.
which YouTube is catered for, this is a pretty big win. and us needing to convert in some way for a sponsor Now, if you're somebody that does a full dedicated,
then in that case, probably not that big of a deal. and what I mean by ad reads is you're one of the creators or whatever, then you get to a particular part of your video
and then you have a little quick blurb I think those types of ads I hope I'm wrong, but as a long-term play,
and you had ads at the front of the videos in that particular case, might it be in your best interest to have features like this to where you made it possible
of what it is that you wanted them to see and all that stuff compared to a sponsor read But I'm just saying, all of this stuff feels shady.
It's rumored, so I don't know if they're testing this that I'm explaining it, to be showing AI results when people look
basically, let's say that I went to YouTube search In that particular case, if you're a content creator or a bunch of other recipes in there,
in order to sell that, and somebody goes well again, because it's being catered to the viewer, an AI-generated recipe shows up next
to watch your video in order to get the information So again, win for the viewer, And again, this is rumored, so I don't know if this is part
or if they're going to be doing which is you type in what it is that you're looking for, and with that AI result,
maybe two or three sources underneath the actual result. and look at those sources because Google just gives you and you leverage search-based content
and maybe products are solutions to those questions, which then would also be a loss of sorts but us, you know,
Now, if you've been watching my content I also like to give a solution So in this case, since I do have pretty strong opinions
I also put together some solutions that we might be able So as that squeeze gets a little bit tighter over time, First, if you're somebody that's trying to bring attention
maybe bringing attention to your own company, as one solution is by saying the specific things that people need to go to
and it requires some skill sets, But as an example, I have a website, NickNimmin.com so I can track everything through that website.
when I'm promoting something very specific, go to NickNimmin.com/whatever that thing is, as soon as they type that into their browser.
However, it might save them from having it gives you one more place where you're giving information they also heard you say it
that they do get sidetracked or something like that. but you gotta be really careful with this one in how you're using it is you can also buy domain names
So for example, if I was trying to send somebody to Opus Clip, then I can say, go to tryopusnow.com, then it would send them directly to Opus Clip.
all I had to do is buy the domain, tryopusnow.com, and then there's something called a wild card redirect and then I just add my affiliate link there.
or if I say it in a video, then in that particular case, and then they can go that way. But it does come with a cost
If you're going for dotcoms, some of them can be cheaper, but you just need to make sure and that it's consistent across your content.
just let me know down in the comments that you want it, And don't worry, it's way easier than it sounds. let's say like in my case,
So one of the things like I use TubeSpanner already, not necessarily for people to go there to click on links.
then in that case, it would give you the option However, you still need to say something in your video around a asset that you own, so to speak,
in order to get people to that. but even in that case, people still have to navigate or they'll see it in that area
if they end up clicking into that particular area. let's say that over the next five years, Well, in that case, you're gonna have a link tree,
and trying to find the link to be really mindful of what you keep in there. is if you can bounce things off of your website
that you promote, then as long as you own those properties, then your content can still drive that revenue forever, Even if a worst case scenario where YouTube decides like,
I don't think that's gonna happen, but if they did, because you would have an archive of content like these are just my opinions on some of the things
in terms of the direction things are going. to be a content creator. on YouTube for anybody that wants to take that opportunity.
and they want us to make a lot of money But I do think that they just want maybe a little bit that they're not making money on right now.
if that is a direction that they're heading in. and we have to modify. of things we can start doing now in order to be able
And even though this video is more of a rant, and you're wanting to learn more about YouTube, and my YouTube channel where I have tons of content
and I will see you in the next video.