Key Takeaways:
- YouTube algorithm changes encourage small creators to bring in new and fresh content.
- Big creators like MrBeast are seeing their videos lose views, as noted by the PBD Podcast.
- Mr. Beast pushed back on the ‘50%’ views drop claims.
- Changes to algorithms are happening on other platforms, too, such as Instagram.
- Now, creators who can adapt quickly are more likely to succeed than those who just have a big following.
A recent podcast sparked debate over whether the YouTube algorithm changes are favoring smaller creators over established ones. The host suggested that small channels are gaining more visibility while the experienced ones are seeing slower growth.
The Algorithm Shift: What’s Really Happening
As of the 2026 Algorithm updates, the Shorts video recommendation is completely decoupled from the long-form video engine. The recommendations have evolved with YouTube’s methods for recommending and suggesting videos to viewers.
MrBeast Responds: “The Math Doesn’t Add Up”
MrBeast is the most-subscribed-to YouTube channel. He pushed back on the claim and stated that over the years, he has seen such drops. He quoted:
“I keep seeing this ‘down 50%’ number and I’m not sure who did the math. ”
“The videos with hundreds of millions of views are years old. Our videos are evergreen, they usually get 5 to 10 million views a month for years. Hence why newer videos have less views.”
