The Decline of Creativity on YouTube: When Algorithms Kill Art
YouTube used to be a place where people could express their creativity without too many limitations. Whether it was art, music, storytelling, films, or poetry, creators had the freedom to produce what they truly wanted. But nowadays, it feels like something has changed. Instead of being a platform where people share their passions, YouTube seems to be more about pleasing the algorithm. The result? A lot of the creativity that once thrived seems to be disappearing.
The Algorithmic Dilemma
From what I’ve seen, watched, heard and read online, the YouTube algorithm has become a pretty dominant force. It’s designed to keep viewers on the platform for as long as possible, which means it tends to push content that gets lots of clicks and long watch times. But the algorithm doesn’t distinguish between high-quality, creative work and the more basic, trend-chasing stuff. What matters most is how much engagement a video gets—whether that’s views, likes, or comments.
Because of this, many creators feel like they have to play along with what the algorithm wants. It’s almost as if the system rewards content that’s quick and catchy rather than thoughtful or artistic. So, instead of putting time and effort into something creative, many YouTubers end up focusing on what will get them noticed—flashy titles, trendy topics, or whatever will trigger the most engagement. And while that might help their videos get seen, it often means sacrificing the deeper, more meaningful content they originally wanted to create.
Audience Over Art
Another thing I’ve noticed is that this algorithm-driven approach changes how creators think about their work. Instead of asking themselves, “What do I want to create?” or “What story do I want to tell?” they’re more likely to wonder, “What will get me the most views?” This isn’t just speculation—it seems to be happening more and more as creators chase the viral moments that the algorithm favours.
A lot of the time, this leads to creators making the same kind of content over and over again because they know it works. They stick to formats, trends, and ideas that have already proven successful, which means less room for experimenting or taking risks. The focus shifts from art to audience, and YouTube starts feeling less like a place for originality and more like a factory for trending content.
What Happens to the Creators?
It’s kind of sad to see how this has impacted artists on the platform. Creators who want to explore new ideas, tell unconventional stories, or push the boundaries of their craft often find themselves sidelined. The algorithm tends to favour quick, attention-grabbing videos, which means those who want to take their time, develop deeper projects, or go against the grain might not get the attention they deserve.
This can be really discouraging for people on YouTube to create meaningful work. The platform still has tons of potential, but with so much focus on numbers, engagement, and clicks, I feel like creativity is getting lost in the shuffle.
Watch YouTuber (or should I say MUSICIAN) Maven Fiction about his feelings about YouTube and the pressures its algorithm has impacted his creativity. Although, he is a genius with a handful of patch cables and some modular synth gear!
Can Anything Be Done?
I’m not sure if this is a problem with a clear solution, but I do think there are a few things that could help. One of the most important is for creators to stay true to themselves and their original vision. Even though it might be tempting to chase the algorithm, there’s still value in producing work that you’re passionate about—even if it doesn’t go viral. And as viewers, we can do our part by supporting creators who take risks and put out content that might not fit the usual mould.
It would also be great if YouTube could find a way to adjust its algorithm to support creativity better. Maybe the system could place more emphasis on originality and artistic value instead of just views and watch time. I’m not sure how realistic that is, but it’s something worth thinking about.
For now, though, it seems like the best thing we can do is try to bring the focus back to what really matters: the art, the music, the stories, and the creativity that made YouTube special in the first place.