YouTube takes aim at clipper accounts, will prioritize original Shorts

YouTube says it is updating the recommendation algorithms behind Shorts to give original content more priority and reduce the reach of videos re-uploaded from other creators. The change targets clipper accounts, which repost clips from other channels without adding anything of their own.

What is changing

The company says the system will "further prioritize original content and reduce the reach of content re-uploaded from other creators." It has not said exactly how the new mechanism will work, but it noted that channels primarily aggregating pre-existing content, without significantly changing it, will "likely see less distribution within the Shorts feed." The restriction is not meant to apply to all re-uploads: YouTube wants creators to add "real value," for example through "original commentary, unique edits or storytelling," and it suggests clipper accounts should instead add their own voice and commentary to the clips they post.

An open question

One point remains open: many creators cut clips from their own long-form videos and post them as Shorts. It is not yet known whether the new algorithms will reduce the reach of those clips too. For long-form creators, such clips are a good way to reach part of the Shorts audience. Engadget has asked YouTube about this and is waiting for a response.

Other updates

The Shorts change adds to a series of recent YouTube updates. The platform recently launched customizable video feeds and now lets people drop GIFs into comment sections, and it is currently working on an auto-dubbing tool that will translate content in real time.