Is YouTube Leaving Creators Behind?

YouTube is changing fast—and not necessarily in a good way for original creators. In their recent earnings call, Google CEO Sundar Pichai revealed that Shorts now earn more revenue per watch hour than traditional in-stream YouTube videos. That may sound good on the surface, but what does that really mean?

If ads are all that matter, and content creation becomes secondary, we’re headed into dangerous territory. YouTube’s increasing corporatization and focus on short-form, churned-out content risks sidelining smaller creators who’ve built this platform from the ground up.

As someone who’s been on YouTube since age 17, I break down why this shift matters—and why all creators (especially those making thoughtful, original content) need to pay attention.