YouTube brings monetization into the classroom by updating its Player for Education

YouTube wants its creator community to upload videos that can be used in schools, so it’s making those videos more profitable than they previously were. Monetization is now available through YouTube’s classroom-safe Player for Education, with payouts proportional to watch time.

Jonah Manzano, a tech enthusiast known for leaking new and upcoming features on social media, posted about the Player for Education update on Threads. Manzano noticed that a new tab had been added to the “Earn on YouTube” landing page, which details various monetization opportunities for the platform’s creators.

YouTube also updated its Player for Education support page to reflect the change. “Our educational partners pay to license the Player for Education from YouTube,” reads the page. “Even though there aren’t any ads, you can still earn money from the amount of time people watch your videos in the player.” Accumulated earnings are routed through AdSense and can be managed there.

The Player for Education was one of the new features YouTube launched in 2023 as part of its effort to expand its utility in classroom settings. The alternative video player is designed to cut down on distractions, and it also offers an ad-free experience.

YouTube channels like Crash Course have long been applicable tools for teachers, and recent research suggests that students might learn better when course materials are conveyed through a stimulating format — i.e. an entertaining YouTube video. For YouTube to reach its educational potential, its creators need to keep making classroom-appropriate videos.

If those clips are viewed through the Player for Education, the ad-free environment makes it harder for creators to support their work. That’s why the latest monetization update is important: It gives creators more runway to create content that can make a positive change in schools.

We’ve seen YouTube adopt strategies like this in several different areas. A recent change to the platform’s monetization policies, for example, made it easier for creators to post newsy and political videos without drawing takedown notices. Across all facets of its business, YouTube is making it easier and more profitable to upload content that enriches and informs its viewers. When you consider some of the problems today’s teens are dealing with, the value of YouTube’s effort becomes clear.