<b>Channel memberships are being nudged toward the exit</b>

<b>Channel memberships are being nudged toward the exit</b>
Heard this Tuesday: a source close to the monetization team says memberships are getting fewer surfacing slots while YouTube pushes Shopping and Super Thanks, which carry better take-rates for the platform. Creators are reporting the 'Join' button quietly demoted on mobile watch pages.
For a channel like yours: don't build your whole recurring revenue on memberships alone. Move your core community to a platform you own — newsletter or off-platform community — and use memberships as a top-up, not the foundation.
Confidence: medium. Placement changes visible, intent is inferred.