Green to Yellow Dollar: Understanding YouTube’s Monetization System



Green Dollar vs. Yellow Dollar on YouTube: What's the Difference?

Here's the deal:

On YouTube, Green Dollar and Yellow Dollar refer to the monetization status of your video. When your video gets a Green Dollar, it means your video can generate income to the fullest because the ads displayed on your video meet YouTube's standards.

However, if your video gets a Yellow Dollar, it means the monetization is limited. YouTube assesses that your video might contain something considered controversial or not aligned with their ad policies, so only a few ads can be shown, or sometimes, no ads at all. This is what’s called the Yellow Dollar.


Why Does My Video Get a Yellow Dollar?

There are several reasons why your video might shift from Green Dollar to Yellow Dollar, including:

  1. The classification of your video can change after it has been published, because YouTube's system continuously analyzes more data related to your video. When you upload a video, it’s not just a one-time evaluation; YouTube’s algorithm keeps monitoring how people interact with your content, how they engage with the ads, and how it performs over time.

    As viewers watch your video, leave comments, or report issues, YouTube gathers more information, and this data could cause the system to update its assessment of the video’s content. This means that even after a video is live, its monetization status can be updated if new information comes in. For example, if YouTube’s system initially classified your video as being advertiser-friendly (green dollar) but later detects content that doesn’t align with its policies, the status might change to a limited monetization (yellow dollar).

    YouTube is also actively working to speed up and stabilize this process, making sure that these changes happen more efficiently and predictably. The goal is to make sure that the classification process is as accurate as possible, without delays, and to provide creators with more reliable information regarding the status of their videos. This means that the classification system will continue to evolve and improve over time, giving both creators and advertisers a clearer understanding of what content can be monetized and how.

    In simple terms, your video’s classification isn’t set in stone once it’s published. It’s part of an ongoing process where YouTube refines its judgment based on new data. And, while the system is still learning, YouTube is working on making these changes quicker and more consistent.

  2. Sensitive or Controversial Content: If your video discusses topics that are sensitive or controversial, such as violence, hate speech, or extreme politics, YouTube may label it with a yellow dollar. For example, videos that discuss hot political issues or unproven conspiracy theories could be affected.

  3. Offensive Words or Phrases: YouTube will also give a yellow dollar if your video contains inappropriate language, such as words related to drugs, violence, or sexual content. So, if your video has harsh language or content that could make viewers uncomfortable, this could be a reason for the yellow dollar.

  4. Adult Content: If your video is only suitable for an adult audience—say, it discusses topics that are sexual or dangerous—YouTube will restrict the ads that can be placed on it. YouTube also avoids placing ads on videos that could influence younger audiences.

  5. Copyright Violations: If your video violates copyright, like using music or video clips without permission, YouTube may limit your monetization.

  6. Strict Ad Guidelines: YouTube has strict rules about what can and can’t be promoted through ads. So, if your video talks about topics that go against their ad policies (like alcohol, weapons, or dangerous products), your monetization status could change to yellow.


What Are the Effects of a Yellow Dollar?

  • Green Dollar means you get full earnings from ads, because your video is considered safe and suitable for a variety of ads.
  • Yellow Dollar means your earnings will be reduced because only a few types of ads can appear. Usually, the ads shown are fewer or possibly less relevant to your video’s content.


What Can You Do If Your Video Gets a Yellow Dollar?

If your video gets a Yellow Dollar, here are a few things you can do to try and fix it:

  1. Appeal the Decision: If you feel your video was wrongly given a yellow dollar, you can appeal through YouTube Studio. YouTube will manually review your video and decide whether to restore it to Green Dollar or keep it with Yellow Dollar.

  2. Check YouTube’s Community Guidelines: Make sure your content aligns with YouTube’s Community Guidelines and Monetization Policies. Avoid content that violates these rules, like violence, hate speech, or risky content.

  3. Edit the Video: If you know there’s something in the video causing the issue, like inappropriate language or images, you can edit the video and upload it again. This might resolve the problem.

  4. Use YouTube Studio’s Features: YouTube Studio offers detailed information about your video’s monetization status. You can check there if your video has violated any rules or received a flag from YouTube’s automated systems.


In Conclusion:

  • Green Dollar means your video is fully monetized and earning revenue normally.
  • Yellow Dollar means monetization is limited, and fewer ads will be shown.


Your video can switch to Yellow Dollar if it’s flagged for violating YouTube’s policies, such as containing sensitive content, inappropriate language, or copyright issues. If that happens, you can appeal or modify your video content to try and restore it to Green Dollar.

Hope this can help you! Thank you