16 High-earning YouTube channels shut down

2026-02-10 - 16:49

YouTube, owned by Google, has taken steps to shut down 16 leading YouTube channels that were generating massive income by producing content using artificial intelligence (AI). According to foreign media reports, the decision was taken after it was confirmed that these channels had violated YouTube’s policies on “abuse and spam”. YouTube stated that the channels had uploaded thousands of videos described as “AI slop” content with no creative value, produced automatically and repeatedly recycling the same material. It was further noted that the use of misleading titles and thumbnails (clickbait), the production of videos using only low-quality AI voices and image frames, the manipulation of the algorithm in a manner that crowded out genuine creators, as well as the revenue and influence amassed by these channels, were key reasons for their shutdown. According to reports, the combined figures of the 16 shut-down YouTube channels are as follows: Total subscribers: more than 35 million Total views: more than 4.7 billion Estimated annual revenue: close to USD 10 million (over LKR 3 billion) The channels shut down reportedly include major platforms such as Cuentos Fascinantes and Imperio de Jesus, each of which had more than 5 million subscribers. Meanwhile, YouTube Chief Executive Officer Neal Mohan had previously stated that while the use of AI technology as a tool to assist creators is not a problem, “spam” content released into the system solely for the purpose of making money, without any human effort, will be subjected to increasingly strict regulation in the future. It is also said that this move aims to ensure a fair opportunity for genuine human creators on the platform.