YouTube has announced changes to its Shorts recommendation algorithm aimed at giving greater visibility to creators who produce original content.
Under the new update, channels that mainly re-upload videos created by others without adding significant original elements may experience reduced visibility on the Shorts feed.
YouTube said the changes are designed to improve the quality of content recommended to viewers while giving original creators a better opportunity to reach wider audiences.
According to the platform, its recommendation system analyses billions of signals, including users’ watch history, interests and engagement, to determine which videos are most relevant to them.
The company said channels that primarily aggregate or re-upload other creators’ videos without meaningful modifications could receive less distribution.
However, YouTube clarified that creators are still allowed to use clips from other people’s videos, provided they add substantial value through original commentary, creative editing, storytelling or a distinct perspective.
The platform warned creators against relying on minor technical changes or template-based edits simply to make reused content appear different.
Instead, YouTube encouraged creators to add their own voice, storytelling and creative ideas when using material produced by others.
The update is not a ban on clipping or repurposing content. Rather, it changes how such videos are ranked and distributed through the Shorts recommendation system.
The move could significantly affect “clipper” channels that regularly extract portions of podcasts, interviews, livestreams and other long-form videos and publish them as short videos.
YouTube said the changes are consistent with its existing policies and are intended to ensure that creators producing original material have a stronger opportunity to grow and succeed on the platform.
The update is expected to push creators who rely heavily on re-uploaded material to rethink their Shorts strategies by incorporating more original commentary, storytelling and creative input.
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