YouTube warns Shorts creators: add something original or risk losing reach

YouTube is changing how it recommends Shorts, warning creators to add something original when using other people’s videos or risk having their reach reduced.

The platform is updating its recommendation system to prioritise original work, with channels that primarily aggregate or repost other creators’ videos without making significant changes likely to receive less distribution in the Shorts feed, according to an update posted to YouTube’s Help Community.

Using third-party clips will not automatically result in lower reach, but YouTube said creators should add their own commentary or storytelling rather than relying on minor alterations that add little to the original footage.

“Rather than making minor technical edits or template-based changes simply to alter a video, focus on bringing your own voice, storytelling, or distinct point of view to the conversation,” TeamYouTube said.

The change affects recommendations rather than introducing a new content policy, with YouTube saying the update is intended to give people publishing original work “the best chance to grow and succeed.”

It could have implications for the growing clipping economy, where segments from podcasts, livestreams and other long-form videos are redistributed across platforms including YouTube Shorts, TikTok and Instagram, sometimes by dedicated accounts paid according to the views their clips generate.

The approach closely mirrors changes introduced by Meta earlier this year, while Twitch has also tightened enforcement against attempts to game its recommendation systems.