In 2026, there are several ways to make money as a social media creator. Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, and X all offer monetization programs that you can participate in once you hit a certain amount of followers (or subscribers) and meet other eligibility requirements. You can also monetize your social media with , which doesn’t require you to meet the same conditions.

In fact, you can start affiliate marketing no matter how many followers you have. Read on to learn how you can start earning a profit from your social media accounts.

TL;DR

• Each platform has different follower and engagement thresholds, ranging from 500 subscribers on YouTube to 10,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok

• You can start earning through affiliate marketing with any follower count, no platform approval needed

• We connect creators of all sizes to 1,400+ brands for commission-based income

• This guide breaks down requirements for Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, and X in 2026

What Is Social Media Monetization?

Social media monetization is the process of earning money from your content and audience on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and X. There are two main paths to making money as a creator.

The first path is through native platform programs. These include features like ads that play before your videos, subscriptions your followers pay for, tips and gifts during live streams, and revenue sharing based on your content’s performance. The catch? Each platform sets specific requirements you need to meet before you can access these features.

The second path is through third-party methods like affiliate marketing and brand partnerships. These options let you earn commissions when your followers purchase products through your links. The best part is that you don’t need to meet any follower minimums to get started.

This guide covers both paths so you can find the right monetization strategy for where you are right now.

Social Media Monetization Requirements at a Glance

Here’s a quick comparison of what each major platform requires before you can start earning through their native programs:

No follower requirements? Affiliate marketing through platforms like ours lets you start earning immediately, regardless of your audience size.

Instagram Monetization Requirements in 2026

When it comes to making money on Instagram, there are several routes. You can make money directly on the app through Instagram’s monetization opportunities, or you can make money via brand partnerships and affiliate marketing.

To earn an income from Instagram’s in-app features, your account must meet certain criteria. Currently, there are four main in-app monetization opportunities: subscriptions, Reels ads, badges, and opening an Instagram shop.

Instagram Subscriptions

Instagram subscriptions allow you to offer bonus content behind a paywall. Loyal followers will pay a small monthly fee to support you and access additional content.

The Instagram monetization eligibility criteria for their subscription feature specifies that you must:

• You need to have a professional account

• You need at least 10,000 followers

• You must be at least 18 years old

• Reside in an eligible country

• Comply with Instagram’s policies, community guidelines, and terms of use

• You need to share accurate information

• Your engagement must be authentic and not boosted by bots

Once you meet the above criteria, you can set up an Instagram subscription on your professional account. Find out if you’re eligible for subscriptions by visiting your account settings.

On Instagram, navigate to your professional account dashboard. You will see a button that says, “Set up subscriptions” if you are eligible. If it’s not there, then you aren’t yet eligible to use subscriptions.

Instagram Reels Ads

Instagram is now considered a video-sharing app, so creating Instagram reels is one of the best ways to grow your following and reach. Additionally, you may be able to make money with your reels using ads.

There are a few eligibility requirements to post Instagram Reels ads, including that you must:

• You need to comply with Instagram’s monetization policies

• You need a professional Instagram account

• You must live in the United States

• You must be at least 18 years old

Once you receive an invite and meet the above criteria, Instagram partners will be able to place advertisements in your reels. This monetization feature rewards you based on performance. The better your reel performs, the more money you can make.

Instagram Badges

Did you know that you can make money by going live on Instagram? When you enable Instagram badges on your live videos, viewers can purchase “badges” to support you. Badges are essentially ways for your viewers to gain more recognition and make their comments and questions more visible to you as the creator. Instagram creators keep 100% of the revenue they make from the badges purchased by their viewers.

Another perk of Instagram badges is that it helps you engage with your audience. Since they are purchased live, you can thank them in real-time on your live video.

To qualify for Instagram badges, you need to have at least 10,000 followers and a professional account. You must also be 18 years old or older and comply with Instagram’s monetization policies and community guidelines.

Instagram Shop

Want to make money by selling merch and products to your Instagram followers? Now you can do it directly on the app through Instagram Shops. You can promote your shop items on your posts and reels, which makes it easy for your followers to shop directly from your feed.

In order to be eligible for an Instagram shop, you must have a professional account, be located in an eligible market, and comply with Instagram’s monetization policies.

Make Money on Instagram Through Affiliate Marketing and Brand Partnerships

You can also make money on Instagram by partnering directly with brands. Affiliate marketing allows you to share affiliate links and discount codes with your audience. When your followers shop from your links or use your code, you’ll receive a payment from the brand.

Unlike in-app monetization opportunities, you do not have to meet Instagram’s eligibility rules to get started with affiliate marketing or brand partnerships. For example, you can have any amount of followers on your Instagram account to post affiliate links, rather than needing to meet Instagram’s 10,000 follower requirement for their shop.

Many brands want to partner with nano influencers who have smaller Instagram accounts with highly engaged audiences. If that’s you, you can reach out directly to brands to pitch yourself for a partnership or ask for an affiliate code.

The easiest way to connect with brands is to use an affiliate platform like ours. With us, you can easily create shoppable links from more than 1,400 brands and start selling on any channel right away, including on your Instagram account. You can also create your own personal Mavely MyShop store, along with a variety of other influencer tools to help you manage and monetize your account.

What makes affiliate marketing so appealing? You earn commission on every sale, there’s no approval process to wait for, and you can start sharing links the same day you sign up. Many creators find that affiliate income becomes their most reliable revenue stream because it doesn’t depend on algorithm changes or platform policies.

YouTube Monetization Requirements in 2026

YouTube offers one of the most established creator monetization programs through the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). The platform recently introduced a lower tier that makes it easier for smaller creators to start earning.

YouTube Partner Program Requirements

YouTube now has two tiers for the Partner Program:

Lower Tier (Fan Funding Features):

• You need at least 500 subscribers

• You must have 3 public uploads in the last 90 days

• You need either 3,000 watch hours in the past year or 3 million Shorts views in the last 90 days

This tier gives you access to Super Thanks, Super Chat, Super Stickers, and channel memberships. These features let your audience support you directly.

Full Monetization Tier (Ad Revenue):

• At least 1,000 subscribers

• You need either 4,000 watch hours in the past year or 10 million Shorts views in the last 90 days

• You must comply with YouTube’s monetization policies

Once you reach this tier, you can earn money from ads that play on your videos. You’ll also unlock YouTube Shopping features to tag products in your content.

YouTube Shorts and Long-Form Video Monetization

YouTube pays creators differently depending on the content format. Long-form videos earn revenue through pre-roll, mid-roll, and post-roll ads. The more watch time your videos generate, the more you can earn.

Shorts monetization works through a revenue pool model. YouTube takes ad revenue from the Shorts feed and distributes it to creators based on their share of total Shorts views. While individual Shorts typically earn less than long-form content, they can help you reach the subscriber thresholds faster.

Affiliate Marketing on YouTube

You can also make money on YouTube with affiliate marketing. If you talk about products or brands in your videos, you can offer your subscribers affiliate links and codes in your video descriptions. Additionally, you can seek out brands that will sponsor your videos for a set rate.

As long as you have an engaged following, there are no subscriber or watch time requirements you need to meet to get started with YouTube affiliate marketing and sponsorships. This makes it an ideal starting point for newer creators who haven’t yet qualified for the Partner Program.

Many successful YouTubers actually earn more from affiliate links than from ad revenue. Product reviews, tutorials, and “favorites” videos perform especially well for affiliate marketing because viewers are already in a buying mindset.

Facebook Monetization Requirements in 2026

Facebook offers several ways to monetize your content, from video ads to fan support features. The requirements vary depending on which monetization tool you want to use.

Facebook Reels and In-Stream Ads

To earn money from ads on your Facebook videos, you’ll need to meet these requirements:

• At least 10,000 followers on your Page

• 600,000 total minutes viewed across all your videos in the last 60 days

• You need at least 5 active videos on your Page

• Compliance with Facebook’s community standards

• Live in an

Once approved, you can earn from in-stream ads that play during your videos and from Facebook Reels bonuses when available in your region.

Facebook Stars and Fan Support

Facebook Stars let your viewers send you virtual gifts during live streams and on-demand videos. Each Star is worth $0.01, and viewers purchase them in bundles to send during your content.

To access Stars, you need:

• You need a Page (not a personal profile) with at least 1,000 followers

• You must be at least 18 years old

• You need to live in an eligible country

• You must comply with Facebook’s monetization policies

Stars work well for creators who regularly go live or post engaging video content. Your most loyal fans can support you directly while getting recognition in your comments.

Facebook Group Monetization

If you run a successful Facebook group, you may be able to monetize it. Facebook offers a paid partnerships feature, but you must meet the following requirements:

• You and your brand partner must follow Facebook’s group guidelines and community standards

• Have an established presence in your Facebook group

• Live in an eligible market

• Create eligible content

You can also monetize your Facebook groups by charging a subscription fee to participate in the group.

Another option is to share affiliate links and discount codes for products that the members of your group would appreciate. For example, if you run a Facebook group for photographers, you can share affiliate links to camera gear.

TikTok Monetization Requirements in 2026

TikTok continues to expand its creator monetization options. The platform replaced the original Creator Fund with the Creator Rewards Program, which offers better earning potential for qualifying creators.

TikTok Creator Rewards Program

To join the Creator Rewards Program, you must meet these requirements:

• You must be at least 18 years old

• Have at least 10,000 followers

• Have at least 100,000 video views in the last 30 days

• You need a creator account (not a business account)

• You must post original content longer than one minute

• Live in an eligible country

• You need to follow TikTok’s community guidelines

The Creator Rewards Program pays based on qualified video views, with higher RPMs (revenue per thousand views) than the old Creator Fund. Videos need to be at least one minute long and meet originality requirements to qualify for rewards.

TikTok LIVE Gifts and Tips

TikTok LIVE has lower requirements than the Creator Rewards Program, making it more accessible for growing creators:

• You need at least 1,000 followers to go LIVE

• You must be at least 18 years old

• Your account must be in good standing

During live streams, viewers can send you virtual gifts that convert to Diamonds, which you can then cash out. Top creators earn thousands monthly from LIVE gifts alone. TikTok also offers a Tips feature that lets followers send you money directly.

Affiliate Marketing on TikTok

You can also take advantage of affiliate marketing on TikTok, and you do not have to meet the above requirements. Instead, you can share affiliate links and codes with your audience through your bio link or in video captions.

We can help you find brands, products, and promotions across categories including technology, beauty, home goods, and more so that you can start making money on social media through affiliate marketing.

TikTok Shop also offers an affiliate program where you can earn commissions by featuring products in your videos. This is separate from the Creator Rewards Program and has its own set of requirements, but it’s another way to monetize product-focused content.

X (Twitter) Monetization Requirements in 2026

X (formerly Twitter) has built out its creator monetization program significantly. The platform now offers several ways to earn, though most require an X Premium subscription.

Ads Revenue Sharing Requirements:

• You need at least 500 followers

• You need an X Premium or Premium+ subscription (paid monthly)

• You need 5 million impressions on your posts in the last 3 months

• Your account must be in good standing with no policy violations

Once you qualify, you’ll earn a share of ad revenue from ads shown in replies to your posts. Creators with highly engaging content that sparks conversation tend to earn the most.

Additional X Monetization Features:

• Subscriptions: Let followers pay a monthly fee for exclusive content (requires 500 followers)

• Tips: Accept payments directly from followers through integrated payment services

• Media Studio: Monetize video content with pre-roll ads

The X Premium subscription requirement is a barrier some creators find frustrating. However, if you’re already active on the platform and regularly hit millions of impressions, the subscription cost can pay for itself quickly through ad revenue sharing.

How Many Followers Do You Need to Earn Money on Social Media?

This is one of the most common questions creators ask, and the honest answer is: it depends on your monetization strategy.

For native platform programs, here’s what you’re looking at:

• YouTube: 500 subscribers for fan funding, 1,000 for ad revenue

• TikTok: 10,000 followers plus 100,000 monthly views for Creator Rewards

• Instagram: 10,000 followers for subscriptions and badges

• Facebook: 10,000 followers plus 600,000 minutes viewed for in-stream ads

• X: 500 followers plus 5 million impressions (and a paid subscription)

But here’s what those numbers don’t tell you: affiliate marketing has no minimums. You can start earning commissions with 100 followers if those followers trust your recommendations and actually buy what you suggest.

Many creators find that a smaller, highly engaged audience outperforms a larger, passive one. Someone with 2,000 followers who regularly gets questions like “Where did you get that?” is often better positioned for affiliate success than someone with 50,000 followers who rarely drives purchases.

The key is engagement, not just follower count. If your audience trusts you and acts on your recommendations, you can build real creator income regardless of whether you’ve hit platform thresholds.

How to Monetize Social Media Without Meeting Platform Requirements

Don’t have 10,000 followers yet? That doesn’t mean you can’t start earning. Here are the most accessible ways to monetize your content right now.

Affiliate Marketing for Any Follower Count

Affiliate marketing is the most accessible monetization path for creators of all sizes. Here’s how it works:

1. Join an affiliate platform like ours (it’s free, no application required)

2. Browse brands and products that fit your niche

3. Create shareable links for products you genuinely recommend

4. Share those links in your content, bio, or stories

5. Earn commission when your followers make purchases

With us, you get access to 1,400+ brands across categories like beauty, fashion, home, tech, and more. You can create your own MyShop storefront, track your earnings in real-time, and get paid for every sale you drive.

The beauty of affiliate marketing is that it rewards influence, not just audience size. If you can convince even a handful of people to try a product, you’re earning. And unlike platform ad revenue that fluctuates with algorithm changes, affiliate income is directly tied to your ability to drive purchases.

Brand Partnerships and UGC

Beyond affiliate marketing, you can also earn through:

• User-generated content (UGC): Brands pay creators to produce content for their own channels, not yours. You don’t need any followers for this.

• Micro-influencer partnerships: Many brands specifically seek out creators with 1,000-10,000 followers for authentic, niche campaigns.

• Product gifting: While not direct income, free products offset your expenses and can lead to paid partnerships.

The key is positioning yourself as valuable to brands, which often has more to do with your content quality and engagement rate than your raw follower count.

Start Earning on Social Media with Mavely

Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, and X all offer ways to make money within their apps, but they all come with eligibility requirements. If you want to make money sooner, affiliate marketing is an accessible and lucrative place to start.

join Mavely today to connect with great brands and create a profit from your social media. As the Everyday Influencer Platform, everyone is eligible to join us and start sharing shoppable links right away, with no application.

Our creator courses, dedicated account managers who are industry experts, and real-time analytics help you continue to learn and improve. Whether you have 500 followers or 500,000, you can start building creator income today.

Read More

How Do I Monetize My Social Media Account?

You can monetize your social media account through native platform programs like ads and subscriptions, or through third-party methods like affiliate marketing and brand partnerships. Native programs require meeting specific follower and engagement thresholds, while affiliate marketing lets you start earning immediately with any audience size.

How Many TikTok Followers Do I Need to Make $2,000 a Month?

Most creators need at least 100,000 engaged followers to consistently earn $2,000 monthly through TikTok’s Creator Rewards Program alone, though affiliate marketing can help you earn with far fewer followers. Your actual earnings depend heavily on your content’s view count, engagement rate, and how well you convert viewers into buyers if you’re using affiliate links.

How Many Subscribers Do You Need to Make $1,000 a Month?

The number varies by platform, but YouTube creators typically need 10,000-50,000 subscribers with consistent views to earn $1,000 monthly from ads, while affiliate marketers can reach this goal with smaller, highly engaged audiences. The key factor is how much your audience trusts your recommendations and acts on them.

How Much Does Facebook Pay for 1,000 Views?

Facebook typically pays between $0.01 and $0.02 per view through in-stream ads, meaning 1,000 views earns roughly $10-$20, though rates vary based on audience location and ad engagement. Videos with viewers in the US, UK, and other high-CPM countries tend to earn more per view.

What Are the Minimum Requirements to Monetize on Instagram?

Instagram requires at least 10,000 followers for subscriptions and badges, a professional account, and compliance with their monetization policies, though affiliate marketing has no follower minimums. You must also be at least 18 years old and live in an eligible country to access most monetization features.

Can I Make Money on Social Media with a Small Following?

Yes, you can earn money with any follower count through affiliate marketing platforms like ours—we connect creators of all sizes with brands and require no minimum audience. Many brands actively seek out nano and micro-influencers because smaller audiences often have higher engagement rates and more trust.

What Is the Easiest Social Media Platform to Monetize?

YouTube offers the most accessible entry point with its lower-tier Partner Program requiring just 500 subscribers for fan funding features, though affiliate marketing on any platform has zero requirements. If you’re focused on native monetization, YouTube’s tiered system lets you start earning before hitting the full 1,000-subscriber threshold.

How Long Does It Take to Get Monetized on Social Media?

Platform approval typically takes 1-4 weeks once you meet requirements, but building an audience to meet thresholds can take 6-18 months, while affiliate marketing lets you start earning immediately. The timeline depends heavily on your niche, content consistency, and how quickly you can grow an engaged following.

Do I Need to Pay to Join a Monetization Program?

Most native platform monetization programs are free to join once you meet eligibility requirements, and we’re also free with no application fees. The exception is X (Twitter), which requires a paid Premium subscription to access its Ads Revenue Sharing program.

What Is the Difference Between Platform Monetization and Affiliate Marketing?

Platform monetization pays you directly from the social network based on views or engagement, while affiliate marketing pays you commissions from brands when your followers make purchases through your links. Platform payments depend on ad rates and algorithm performance, while affiliate income is tied directly to the sales you generate.