Creators will now have the chance to earn revenue from ads displayed within eligible Stories and Spotlight posts. This is a major development as Spotlight viewership has seen a 25% year-over-year increase. It presents a unique and growing opportunity for creators to monetize this format in a similar way to Stories. Starting from February 1, 2025, eligible creators will be able to make money from Spotlight videos that are longer than one minute.
To be eligible for this revenue, creators need to meet certain criteria. They must have at least 50,000 followers, post at least 25 times per month to Saved Stories or Spotlight, and post to either Spotlight or Public Stories on at least 10 of the last 28 days. Additionally, they must achieve one of the following in the last 28 days: 12,000 hours of view time, 10 million Snap views, or one million Spotlight views. These requirements are higher than what creators previously had to reach in order to earn revenue.
For instance, in the past, to earn revenue for their Spotlight videos, creators needed at least 1,000 followers, 10,000 unique video views, and a public profile. Moreover, Spotlight videos did not need to be longer than one minute to be eligible for revenue. Now, with the new program, creators need to meet more substantial benchmarks to qualify for earnings.
The change in monetization requirements reflects Snapchat's commitment to growing and supporting its creator community. By setting higher standards, the platform aims to ensure that only the most active and engaged creators can benefit from the revenue-sharing program.
The introduction of this unified monetization program is likely to have a significant impact on the creator economy. It provides creators with a more streamlined and accessible way to earn money from their content on Snapchat. With the increased viewership and the potential for higher earnings, more creators may be attracted to the platform and invest more time and effort into creating engaging content.
Moreover, the program aligns Snapchat with other major social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube, which have also been focusing on creator monetization. By offering similar opportunities, Snapchat can compete more effectively in the crowded creator space and attract a wider audience of creators and viewers.