Is YouTube Shadowbanning Creators or Is It Just Poor Content?

It's essential to recognize that YouTube tests videos on viewers. If your content is not well-received, it may be temporarily sidelined in recommendations. I've noticed that when my video views drop, it’s often due to a lack of engagement rather than any sort of shadowban. The platform is just trying to serve content that people enjoy.

I've seen countless posts from creators asking why no one watches their videos. Often, when I check the linked content, it turns out to be poorly edited gameplay or videos lacking any real engagement. It’s crucial to understand that if your content doesn't captivate your audience, it won't get promoted, regardless of any perceived shadowbanning.

I think a lot of creators who feel they're being shadowbanned need to take a hard look at their work. Improving the quality and engagement of your content can make a significant difference. However, I acknowledge that certain communities, like BIPOC and LGBTQ creators, do face unique challenges and may experience systemic issues that affect their visibility.

From my experience with 74k subscribers, I've had ups and downs with YouTube's algorithm. Sometimes my videos would get great traction, and other times they wouldn't show up in recommendations at all. However, when I duplicated my efforts on a new channel, I found that the same videos performed much better. This suggests that the algorithm can be unpredictable, but it also indicates that content quality is paramount.

While I do believe some topics are favored by YouTube's algorithm, I think shadowbanning is not as widespread as some creators claim. I've noticed that some larger creators with significant followings have mentioned being shadowbanned, but I've searched for their content and found them easily. It makes me wonder if they’re overlooking the fact that their content may not be appealing to their audience anymore.