Photo Credit: YouTube
To surface better Shorts recommendations for users, YouTube has adjusted its algorithm to “focus on originality.”
YouTube says it will “focus on originality” in recommending Shorts to users, adjusting its algorithm so that users will see less unoriginal content. As a result of this change, content that blatantly steals footage from another channel will no longer receive the same reach.
“Our recommendation systems are designed to connect viewers with videos they find genuinely valuable. We evaluate billions of signals—including watch history, topic interests, and engagement—to ensure the best possible experience for viewers,” YouTube’s announcement reads.
“To improve the Shorts experience for everyone, we’re updating our recommendation systems to further prioritize original content and reduce the reach of content re-uploaded from other creators without adding anything of your own. This update to our recommendation systems delivers a better experience for viewers while ensuring creators publishing original content have the best chance to grow and succeed.”
Like short-form content on other social media platforms, YouTube Shorts are designed to be quick and attention-grabbing, making cutting out clips from long-form videos a simple way to generate content with the potential to get a lot of views. But now, taking content from other channels will not provide the same reach for users as it did before this change.
“Channels identified as primarily aggregating or re-uploading other creators’ videos without significant changes will likely see less distribution within the Shorts feed,” YouTube explains. “If you use clips from another creator, make sure you’re adding real value through your own original commentary, unique edits, or storytelling.”
However, it’s unclear where that line is drawn. YouTube’s blog post implies that Shorts containing no meaningful edits from another’s original content would be affected. But it’s uncertain whether edits to another user’s original content would be similarly impacted and what YouTube considers “real value.”
YouTube announced earlier this year that it was testing a new feature allowing users to reimagine other channels’ videos using AI tools. Whether those videos will be prioritized in the new recommendations system remains to be seen.
The company also hasn’t specified whether there’s a rollout timeline for the change or if it’s already live. Given the fact that YouTube didn’t provide a timeline, the change is likely already live.