YouTube has once again rolled out three significant updates for creators — and this time, one of them is an absolute game-changer for those whose channels were once terminated under older policies.
These updates touch on monetization, community guidelines, and creator reinstatement, marking one of the most impactful months in YouTube’s 20-year journey. Whether you’re a full-time YouTuber, affiliate marketer, or just someone planning a comeback, these changes matter to you.
Let’s break down each of these three updates in detail — what’s new, who’s eligible, and how they’ll affect your YouTube journey going forward.
1. Monetization Update: More Merchants Added for YouTube Shopping
Let’s start with the good news for affiliate creators who use YouTube Shopping — the feature that lets you tag and sell products directly from your videos.
Previously, YouTube’s affiliate integrations in India were limited to just two platforms: Flipkart and Myntra. Creators could tag products from these merchants, and whenever viewers purchased items through those tags, the creator earned a small commission.
However, as of October 2025, YouTube has added two new affiliate merchants:
- Nykaa
- Purplle
That means creators can now tag products from four official merchants — Flipkart, Myntra, Nykaa, and Purplle — expanding opportunities across beauty, fashion, lifestyle, and electronics categories.
Why This Matters
This expansion is a big win for creators who review or feature beauty and grooming products. Earlier, someone doing makeup tutorials couldn’t tag products from Nykaa or Purplle. Now, they can — and earn affiliate revenue in the process.
It’s also a hint that YouTube is gradually expanding its affiliate commerce ecosystem — similar to how TikTok Shop and Instagram Shopping work.
The only question left is: When will YouTube integrate Amazon? Since many creators rely on Amazon links for product reviews, adding Amazon would make this system nearly perfect.
Until then, these four merchant options already cover a wide range of product categories for affiliate earnings.
💡 Tip: To start using affiliate product tagging, ensure your channel is monetized and eligible for YouTube Shopping. You can check this in your YouTube Studio → Monetization → Shopping tab.
Learn more on the official YouTube Shopping help page.
2. Community Guidelines Update: New “Medical Misinformation” Clause
Now let’s move to the second update — a policy change that officially goes into effect from October 20, 2025.
YouTube has added a new section to its Community Guidelines, titled “Medical Misinformation Policy.”
What Does This Policy Mean?
YouTube is tightening its stance on health-related content — particularly on tobacco, nicotine, and related substances. Under the new rule, if a creator:
- Claims that tobacco or nicotine is not harmful,
- Suggests these substances are non-addictive, or
- In any way promotes or glorifies their usage,
then that video could receive a Community Guideline strike, or even lead to channel termination for repeat violations.
This update is designed to curb misleading or promotional content that downplays the risks of addiction or health damage. It aligns with YouTube’s broader effort to ensure medical and health-related content comes only from verified, authoritative sources.
Why Is YouTube Doing This?
In recent years, misinformation around health products, supplements, and nicotine alternatives has been growing online. YouTube’s earlier “misinformation” policy primarily targeted COVID-19 and vaccine-related false claims. The new update expands that approach to tobacco and substance-related misinformation.
💬 In short: if your channel deals with health, fitness, or lifestyle — be extremely careful while discussing tobacco, nicotine, or vaping topics. Always rely on verified health data and avoid suggesting safety or benefits.
3. Pilot Program for Terminated Creators: YouTube’s Big Redemption Chance
Here comes the biggest and most surprising update — a second chance for creators whose channels were previously terminated under YouTube’s policy enforcement system.
For the first time ever, YouTube is testing a Pilot Program that allows certain terminated creators to create a new channel using the same email ID that was previously restricted.
Why Is This Happening Now?
YouTube officially stated on its creator forum that the platform is evolving and recognizes that “some creators have grown, learned, and changed since past violations.”
As YouTube celebrates its 20th anniversary, it’s re-evaluating older enforcement policies to make them fairer for long-term creators who made mistakes years ago.
This decision follows widespread criticism of the Circumvention Policy, which previously banned any terminated creator from starting a new channel under the same Google account — even for minor or old violations.
YouTube isn’t removing the Circumvention Policy entirely, but this new pilot project introduces a controlled exception.
4. How to Check Eligibility and Request a New Channel
So who exactly can apply? And how?
Let’s go step by step.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for YouTube’s “Request a New Channel” program:
- Your channel termination must have occurred at least one year ago (not recent).
- The termination must have been due to Copyright Strikes (three-strike rule) or Creator Responsibility Policy violations.
- Channels terminated for spam, scams, or severe community abuse will not be eligible.
- The program currently applies only to a small test group of creators globally.
🧭 How to Check if You’re Eligible
- Log in to YouTube Studio on desktop using the same Google account that was associated with your terminated channel.
- If your account qualifies for the pilot, you’ll see a new option:
“Request a New Channel.” - Click this button to submit your request.
- YouTube will then manually review your case, evaluating the nature and seriousness of your previous policy violations.
If YouTube determines your earlier violations were not severe or intentional, it may approve your request — allowing you to create a brand-new YouTube channel under the same email ID.
⏳ What Happens Next
Once approved:
- You can set up a new channel immediately.
- You’ll be allowed to re-upload original content from your previous channel, but only if those videos comply with current community guidelines.
- When you meet YouTube’s standard monetization requirements again (1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours), you can reapply for monetization on your new channel.
This approach gives creators a legitimate way to rebuild their presence instead of resorting to ban evasion or new email workarounds.
5. Potential Limitations and Observations
While this pilot program sounds like a dream come true, there are still some important conditions to note:
- Recent terminations (within the last year) are excluded.
- YouTube will not automatically restore old channels — it only allows you to start fresh.
- The review process could take several weeks, depending on your location and case complexity.
- Approval is not guaranteed. Serious or repeated violations will still result in permanent bans.
In other words, YouTube is offering forgiveness, not forgetfulness.
Creators must prove that they’ve learned from past mistakes and can follow policies responsibly.
6. What This Means for the Creator Community
These three updates together represent a significant shift in YouTube’s philosophy.
- The Shopping expansion shows YouTube’s growing focus on e-commerce and affiliate monetization — giving creators more ways to earn.
- The Medical Misinformation policy reinforces its commitment to accurate, responsible information sharing.
- And most importantly, the Terminated-Channel pilot acknowledges that creators are human — capable of error and growth.
It’s also a symbolic gesture as YouTube celebrates its 20th anniversary. For a platform that has seen countless creators rise, fall, and reinvent themselves, this update closes the loop — offering redemption to those who once lost everything over a mistake.
So far, YouTube hasn’t confirmed how long this pilot will run or when it might expand globally. But even this small test is a sign that YouTube is willing to balance enforcement with empathy.
7. FAQs
Q1. I lost my channel due to Community Guideline strikes. Am I eligible?
Currently, the program is available only for copyright or responsibility-related terminations, not for severe guideline or spam violations.
Q2. Can I recover my old videos automatically?
No, the old channel remains deleted. You can re-upload your own original copies of videos if they comply with current YouTube rules.
Q3. Is this a permanent change?
As of now, it’s a pilot program — meaning YouTube is testing its impact before making it permanent.
Q4. Do I need to wait for an email invitation?
Not necessarily. You can log in with your old account on YouTube Studio. If you’re eligible, you’ll automatically see the “Request a New Channel” option.
Q5. Will my monetization return automatically?
No, you must meet standard monetization thresholds again and reapply.
Q6. What happens if my request is rejected?
If rejected, you can’t appeal immediately, but YouTube may re-open the program for more users in future rounds.
8. Disclaimer
This article is intended for informational and educational purposes. The information is based on YouTube’s official communications and verified creator forum updates as of October 2025.
Policies and eligibility rules may vary by region or over time.
Always refer to the YouTube Help Center for the latest updates before taking any action.
YouTube® and Google® are registered trademarks of Google LLC.
Tags & Hashtags
Tags: YouTube terminated channel update, YouTube pilot program, YouTube shopping update, affiliate merchants, medical misinformation policy, community guidelines, monetization, creator reinstatement, YouTube news October 2025
Hashtags: #YouTubeUpdate #YouTubeCreators #Monetization #AffiliateMarketing #YouTubePolicy #MedicalMisinformation #TerminatedChannels #YouTubeNews #CreatorCommunity
