YouTube Moves to Cut Shorts Reach of Channels That Re-Upload Others’ Videos

By: Ganiyu Olayinka

YouTube is changing how it recommends Shorts so that creators who make their own content get more exposure than channels that mainly repost other people’s work. Creator Liaison Rene Ritchie announced the update in a video published October 1 on the Creator Insider channel.

The company says the change is meant to improve the Shorts experience for viewers. Its recommendation system weighs many signals, including watch history, interests, and engagement, to decide what each person sees. Under the update, channels identified as mainly aggregating or re-uploading other creators’ videos without significant changes “will likely see less distribution within the Shorts feed.”

Clipper channels are most exposed

The change is expected to hit “clipper” channels hardest. These accounts cut segments from podcasts, interviews, livestreams and other long-form content and repost them as short videos.

Not a ban on clipping

YouTube says the update is not a ban. Creators can still use clips from other people’s content, but the company wants them to add something of their own, such as original commentary, distinctive editing or storytelling. It warns that minor tweaks or template-based edits made only to make reused footage look original won’t count. The change builds on its existing policies against reposted content.

Still unclear

The announcement gives no start date and does not say how long a re-evaluation takes. It is also unclear whether creators who clip their own long-form videos will be affected. Channels that move away from re-uploading toward original work will have their reach re-evaluated. 

For channels that rely on other creators’ material, the message is to add more original commentary, storytelling, and creative input.