Even as YouTube’s new curbs on AI usage in content development come into force on Tuesday, those watching the space expect content creators to flock to alternative platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok (currently banned in India) where such restrictions don’t exist yet.
Social media platforms such as Reddit are abuzz with discussions on the potential impact of YouTube’s move. Some, however, feel that YouTube may not opt for a large-scale axing by pushing them out of its monetisation programme, fearing an exodus.
Monitoring ‘AI Slop’
YouTube, an arm of Google, asserts that this initiative aims to monitor ‘AI Slop,’ which refers to a deluge of low-quality, repetitive, and unoriginal AI-generated content. It, however, will continue to allow a fair use of AI that adds value to the original content. The creators will have to flag the use of AI while uploading their videos and images. Industry watchers say the move is aimed at keeping mass-produced AI videos out of the monetisation programme.
Asked whether YouTube’s move could lead to the mass exit of creators from the platform, Satyadev Chada Krishna, Founder of Infinitum Network Solutions, felt that it might not happen immediately.
Infinitum operates 550 channels and is one of 12 Multi-Channel Networks that collaborate closely with YouTube in Asia, including India.
“Not immediately, but as YouTube continues to hold out, other platforms could be used by AI creators to find alternate ways of monetisation,” he said.
The lure for creators is that other platforms are not discouraging AI content. For example, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, as well as YouTube’s competitors, impose no such restrictions.
“As of now, Pinterest and Facebook have already seen a deluge of AI-generated images and are expected to be swamped over the next two to three quarters,” he said.
Platforms such as Instagram and Pinterest already have a host of creators posting AI-generated content.
Anil Joseph, who runs channels on Insta and YouTube with 100 per cent AI content, felt that YouTube’s restrictions on AI usage would only affect fast-generated content. He, however, feels that YouTube may not do anything that could make creators flock to other platforms. “I think they just take out bulk-created content using AI,” he said.
‘Other platforms encourage creators to use AI’
Social media influencer Manjula Kalanidhi, who started the rice-bucket challenge a few years ago, said that YouTube’s loss could be the other platforms’ gain. “Other platforms are encouraging their creators to use AI,” she said.
“Most AI-generated content, including that with AI voiceovers, is here to stay. Their enforcement is to demonetise, not to delete. Meaning, the content will still exist on the platform. They are not getting rid of AI content, they are trying to target mass-generated low-quality content channels,” a Reddit user said.
Published on July 15, 2025
