YouTube will cut the reach of channels reposting barely changed clips

According to Search Engine Journal, YouTube is updating its recommendation system to give more weight to original Shorts. The change targets channels that gather or re-upload other creators' clips without making a meaningful difference. YouTube Creator Liaison Rene Ritchie announced it in a video on the Creator Insider channel.

What does YouTube not count as original?

According to Ritchie, creators who reuse another creator's clip need to add their own contribution. Voice-over that only describes what is on screen, minor technical edits and template-based bulk changes do not count. What is expected is commentary, analysis and storytelling. For those who want to put another video in front of their audience, the channel's Posts tab is recommended, so that viewers watch the original upload.

Is this different from the monetisation policy?

Yes. YouTube's channel monetisation policies already ask that borrowed content be changed enough "to make it your own". The video in the report concerns recommendations and does not mention monetisation. A single channel could therefore face pressure on both revenue and reach.

The report notes that other platforms have taken a similar path. Instagram said it would also leave accounts that only re-upload others' work in photos and carousels out of recommendations, a rule it had applied to reels earlier. Facebook announced that accounts that repost without permission would lose access to its monetisation programmes for a period.

What should brands and agencies in Turkey do?

The report does not say how the rule will affect teams that cut Shorts from their own long videos; YouTube's video does not address this. Given that uncertainty, teams should first review their own practice:

• If you run accounts built on other people's clips, check that your edits go beyond voice-over and minor technical touches and contain real commentary or analysis.
• Review Shorts plans that rely on compilations and bulk templates; put original footage and your own point of view first.
• If your reach drops, monitor your channel data before blaming a single update; YouTube has not announced a screen showing that a channel's reach was reduced.

Ritchie said that if a channel that was previously aggregating or re-uploading shifts towards original content, the recommendation system will re-evaluate its reach. However, it was not stated when the update will start or how long re-evaluation will take.