Here's the truth: the algorithm isn't trying to bury you. It's trying to protect watch time. That's it. Everything else is noise.

Most stuck creators blame "the algorithm" when the real problem is one of three things:

1. Your title/thumbnail promise a video you don't deliver. The algo tracks average view duration against expectation. Overpromise = death by drop-off in the first 30 seconds.

1. You're optimizing for a search term nobody in the US searches. SEO isn't about stuffing keywords — it's about matching intent. Check what's actually being typed before you title anything.

1. You're inconsistent with a format, not a schedule. The algorithm rewards pattern recognition — same audience, same expectation, repeated. Switching niches every 3 videos resets your progress every time.

I've spent 5 years doing YouTube Shorts automation and audited hundreds of channels. The ones that break through fix these 3 things first — not "post more" or "use trending sounds."

If you want a second pair of eyes on your channel specifically, I do full audits over at IMscales. But even if you never work with me — check those 3 things today. It's usually one of them.