YouTube Modifies Short Video Algorithm to Curb Reposted Content - Sarmad

YouTube announced an update to its recommendation systems for its short-form video service, Shorts, with the aim of boosting the visibility of original content and reducing the spread of clips that channels repost from other creators’ works without adding new value.

The tech website Dexerto reported that the update targets channels that rely on compiling or re-uploading others’ clips with only minor modifications, which may reduce the chances of their videos appearing to users.

The platform clarified that the changes aim to improve the viewing experience by prioritizing original content and limiting the reach of reposted clips that lack substantial additions, while encouraging creators to provide original commentary, distinctive edits, or narrative storytelling that adds value to the material used.

The new approach does not target all clips based on previously published material; it allows content creators who repurpose existing footage within new works that include clear perspectives or creative additions, rather than limiting themselves to minor formal or technical changes.

The update comes amid YouTube’s previous efforts to curb repetitive or mass-produced content aimed at generating profit, but this time it focuses on the distribution and recommendation mechanisms for short videos.