YouTube Shorts algorithm change: Fix your dropping views

If your evergreen Shorts suddenly went from "crushing it" to "crickets," it's not your imagination. A fresh shift in YouTube's recommendation behavior appears to be boosting brand-new uploads while turning down discovery on Shorts older than ~30 days. Translation: the hamster wheel just got a little faster. Before you rage-edit another 12 clips, let's unpack what's changing - and how creators can turn this into an advantage.

What creators are seeing right now

In early fall, multiple channels reported a sharp drop in views on Shorts older than a month, even while new uploads continued performing normally.
Some operators shared large-scale dashboards showing the pattern across dozens of channels, suggesting this isn't an isolated blip.
Evergreen Shorts - formerly dependable slow-burn performers - appear to be getting less recommendation surface after that 30-day mark.

There's been no formal public announcement tied to this specific behavior, but the pattern is consistent enough that many Shorts-first channels have noticed the same "flattening" of older content.

Why would YouTube favor newer Shorts?

The short-form battlefield is ruthless. TikTok set the pace on fresh, snackable, high-cadence content, and competing platforms have repeatedly tuned their feeds toward recency and originality. Meta has made similar pivots with Reels to elevate newer, original uploads. YouTube has a clear incentive to keep its Short feed feeling current and competitive, which naturally pressures creators toward frequent posting.

We've seen this playbook before. When watch time became the dominant signal in the mid-2010s, uploaders who could sustain constant output gained an edge - often larger teams and media orgs. A recency-boosted Shorts environment similarly rewards consistency, iteration speed, and a steady release cadence.

What this means for your channel strategy

Don't panic - optimize. Think of this as a "freshness tax." You'll still get value from your archive, but your growth will increasingly ride on what you've posted lately. Here's how to adapt without burning out.

1) Refresh your winners instead of reinventing the wheel

Re-cut proven hits with a new hook in the first 1-2 seconds. Tighter intros and faster scene-setting can revive similar ideas without feeling repetitive.
Rotate formats: turn a high-performing fact Short into a mini-challenge, reaction, or duetted remix.
Change the angle, not just the edit - e.g., "Top 3 mistakes" becomes "I fixed your #1 mistake in 24 hours."

2) Build series, not single shots

Group Shorts into clearly labeled, bingeable series. Viewers should immediately know there's a next episode tomorrow.
Use consistent title framing so the feed recognizes and viewers remember the series. Think: Season/Episode markers or recurring keywords.
Pin comments that chain episodes together to nudge session depth.

3) Shorten your content feedback loop

Audit retention at 0-3s, 3-10s, and completion. If the open is weak, the rest doesn't matter.
Test three intros for the same idea across different uploads over a week. Kill what underperforms; double down on the hook that keeps people watching.
Keep a "fast lane" pipeline for timely ideas you can ship in 24-48 hours.

4) Keep your archive working

Bundle older Shorts into topical playlists so new viewers can discover them via your channel page and suggestions.
Occasionally stitch or respond to your own archive with updates, corrections, or "Part 2" follow-ups.
Refresh descriptions and captions on your top 20 archival Shorts to improve searchability and related-video connections.

Reader-friendly reality check

Yes, the platform seems to be nudging you to post more often. No, that doesn't mean you must ship 5 meh Shorts a day. It means you need a system to ship 3-5 great ones a week - consistently.

Industry context creators should know

Short-form platforms often prioritize novelty to keep feeds feeling "alive," and that can depress long-tail views on older clips.
Past algorithm pivots (like the watch-time shift) created winners who adapted their operating model, not just their editing style.
Shorts have become a major top-of-funnel for long-form and channel growth; treating Shorts like a serial product line - rather than isolated uploads - aligns with how feeds distribute content today.

How to tell if you're affected

Segment Shorts by age: 0-7 days, 8-30 days, 31-90 days.
Compare average views per day before and after the 30-day mark across the past 90 days.
Check if new uploads maintain expected velocity while older Shorts drop disproportionately.
If yes, shift planning toward a higher cadence with more remixing of proven ideas.

Creator playbook: a practical weekly cadence

Day 1: Launch a flagship Short with your strongest hook.
Day 2: Publish a companion Short (FAQ, behind-the-scenes, or "try this at home").
Day 3: Reactive Short tied to trends or comments.
Day 4: Iteration of the flagship concept with a different intro angle.
Day 5: Tease the next mini-arc and invite comments you'll build into next week.

This keeps content fresh, leverages iterative learning, and gives viewers a reason to come back - exactly what a recency-friendly feed wants.

Monetization and growth notes

Shorts are still phenomenal for discovery. Use end cards, pinned comments, and consistent series labeling to bridge viewers into long-form, live, or product funnels.
If your RPM is volatile, rely on diversified revenue: affiliate hooks in captions, email list promos, or episodic merch drops tied to a series.

What to watch next

Further tweaks to how "freshness" and originality are scored in the Shorts feed.
More tools for repackaging and cross-pollinating Shorts with long-form (e.g., sampling and remix features).
Signals around how series, playlists, and channel-level topical focus influence Shorts distribution over time.

Bottom line

If your older Shorts suddenly lost steam, you're not alone - and you're not powerless. Recency-weighted discovery rewards creators who operate like publishers: plan in arcs, iterate fast, and keep the story moving. Don't chase the algorithm; make it chase you with consistent, irresistible episodes your audience can't help but binge.