YouTube has updated its Shorts recommendation system to prioritise original content and reduce the reach of re-uploaded videos.
The video-sharing platform announced the change in a blog post published on October 1. It said the update will improve the short-video experience and give creators of original content a better chance to grow.
YouTube said channels that mainly aggregate or re-upload videos from other creators without making significant changes could receive less distribution in the Shorts feed.
“If you use clips from another creator, make sure you’re adding real value through your own original commentary, unique edits, or storytelling,” the company said.
The platform also urged creators to add their own perspective instead of relying on minor technical edits or templates when using another creator’s content.
The change could affect the growing number of “clippers”. These accounts take parts of podcasts, interviews, livestreams and other long-form videos and republish them as short-form content.
However, YouTube said clipping itself is not prohibited. Creators can still use clips from other videos if they add meaningful commentary, storytelling or creative editing.
The update aligns with YouTube’s existing policies on reused content. It focuses on how such videos perform in the Shorts recommendation system.
Leave a Reply