YouTube is making its verification program for creators even stricter. YouTube is now rolling out some new changes to Verification badges on channels. As a result, Google is cracking down on individual YouTubers and channels that don't meet the company's criteria to earn verification badges. Besides, Google wants to make it more difficult for YouTube channels to receive a checkmark beside their channel name.

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"We’ve updated the eligibility criteria for verification badges on YouTube. This change is to help viewers distinguish the official channel of a creator, celebrity, or brand," YouTube updated its support page. "As a result of these changes, some channels that already have the verification badge will no longer meet the criteria to be verified. These channels received an email from YouTube with additional details."

YouTube adds new rules

YouTube also said verified channels would get a new look in the coming weeks. However, we are seeking more details on that front.

Currently, YouTube looks at following things before verifying a channel: Number of subscribers and your online presence on and off YouTube. YouTube also sees whether your channel name that could be confused with other channels on YouTube. Once you have your channel verified, it will stay verified unless you rename your channel.  The Verge notes YouTube currently allows anyone with more than 1 lakh subscribers to have their channel verified.

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Additional clarification:
✔️No one lost a verification badge today–If you received an email that your channel will no longer be verified, this was just an advanced notice & you can appeal
✔️The checkmark has never appeared on YouTube mobile channel pages (this will be added soon) https://t.co/vv64ClfuBx

— YouTube Creators (@YTCreators)

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We’re making this change to help everyone determine whether a channel is the official YouTube presence of the creator they’re looking for. Please know that badge or no badge, you’re an important part of YouTube.

— YouTube Creators (@YTCreators)

YouTube's crackdown on hate speech

Of late, YouTube appears to be working hard on keeping its platform clean and actively cracking down on videos filled with hate speech. Earlier this month, YouTube said it removed more than 1 lakh videos for hate speech. YouTube also removed 17,000 channels and 500 million comments for the same reasons. It also rolled out changes to its community guidelines to keep spam translations at bay.