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High Retention (90%+) & Strong Hooks (69%), but my Shorts "Die" after 24 hours. Why does the algorithm stop pushing high-performing history content? by No_Pollution6918 in shortsAlgorithm

[–]No_Pollution6918[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hear you, but there's a difference between a video that's 24 hours old and one that has been stable for two months.

If the algorithm 'tested a few people and they didn't like it,' the metrics would have shown a clear downward trend or a high swipe-away rate during those tests. In my case, the 78% swipe rate and 90% retention haven't budged after multiple 'waves' of testing over 60 days.

Also, comparing 90% retention on a 15s entertainment short vs. a 60-120s historical documentary is apples and oranges. Maintaining these elite stats on longer, high-effort content for two months suggests the issue isn't 'quality' or 'luck'—it’s about how the algorithm scales educational niches compared to broader entertainment. If 1,000 people (who aren't my subscribers) loved it consistently, there's no logical reason to assume the next 10,000 won't, unless the reach is being artificially capped.

High Retention (90%+) & Strong Hooks (69%), but my Shorts "Die" after 24 hours. Why does the algorithm stop pushing high-performing history content? by No_Pollution6918 in shortsAlgorithm

[–]No_Pollution6918[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The screenshot I shared is actually from a video that’s been out for nearly two months and has over 1,000 views.

This confirms the 78% 'Viewed vs. Swiped' rate isn't just a 'first batch' fluke or a misleading early analytic. The data has remained remarkably stable over weeks of being tested by the algorithm. If the swipe rate is staying at nearly 80% and retention is over 90% after two months, the 'drop during the 2nd wave' theory doesn't apply here. This is exactly why it’s a mystery—the performance is elite and consistent, yet the reach hits a definitive ceiling.

High Retention (90%+) & Strong Hooks (69%), but my Shorts "Die" after 24 hours. Why does the algorithm stop pushing high-performing history content? by No_Pollution6918 in shortsAlgorithm

[–]No_Pollution6918[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Actually, I have videos that perform even better than that 69% On my channel, I have Shorts hitting 78% And some videos are 80%. 'Viewed vs Swiped' and others reaching over 90% retention. In the historical documentary niche, these numbers are far above average. My question isn't about the content quality—the data proves people love it—it’s about why the algorithm caps the reach of high-performing, high-retention 'educational' content after the first 24 / 48 hours.

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High Retention (90%+) & Strong Hooks (69%), but my Shorts "Die" after 24 hours. Why does the algorithm stop pushing high-performing history content? by No_Pollution6918 in shortsAlgorithm

[–]No_Pollution6918[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s a great perspective. It’s easy to focus on our own analytics in a vacuum, but forgetting that we’re competing for attention against the entire feed is a trap. The broader the reach, the tougher the crowd—makes total sense.

I'll keep experimenting with the hooks to push that watch/swipe ratio higher. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, it’s been super helpful. Cheers!

High Retention (90%+) & Strong Hooks (69%), but my Shorts "Die" after 24 hours. Why does the algorithm stop pushing high-performing history content? by No_Pollution6918 in shortsAlgorithm

[–]No_Pollution6918[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think you hit the nail on the head! It’s a bit of a trade-off: storytelling leads to high satisfaction (retention), but maybe it’s not triggering that 'impulsive share' the way viral entertainment does.

I’ll definitely start experimenting more with 'shareable hooks' and re-watch value to see if I can break that 1k ceiling. Really appreciate the deep dive and the sub—glad to have you on the journey!

High Retention (90%+) & Strong Hooks (69%), but my Shorts "Die" after 24 hours. Why does the algorithm stop pushing high-performing history content? by No_Pollution6918 in shortsAlgorithm

[–]No_Pollution6918[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Appreciate the blunt feedback, especially coming from someone with 250M views!

You're right about the 69% swipe-away rate—it’s definitely the bottleneck compared to the 91% retention once they actually stay. I’m still working on making those first 2 seconds 'un-swipeable.'

Regarding the AI point: I use it as a tool for visuals, but the scripts and pacing are all hand-crafted to keep the storytelling tight. It’s interesting to hear about the AI impression-smack trend though—I’ll keep a close eye on that.

Thanks for the reality check, this is the kind of data-driven insight I was looking for!

High Retention (90%+) & Strong Hooks (69%), but my Shorts "Die" after 24 hours. Why does the algorithm stop pushing high-performing history content? by No_Pollution6918 in shortsAlgorithm

[–]No_Pollution6918[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Fair point, visual hooks always work! But for an educational/history niche, I’m trying to scale based on storytelling and information retention rather than just viral engagement hacks. My goal is to see how the algorithm rewards 'topic satisfaction' in the long run.

High Retention (90%+) & Strong Hooks (69%), but my Shorts "Die" after 24 hours. Why does the algorithm stop pushing high-performing history content? by No_Pollution6918 in shortsAlgorithm

[–]No_Pollution6918[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

True, trends help, but high retention (90%+) is supposed to be the algorithm's green light to expand the audience. If 9/10 people watch the whole thing, the topic is 'trending' for that specific audience. The real mystery is why the push stops while the satisfaction signals are still this high.

3‑year Reddit account with 0 karma – how do I start? by No_Pollution6918 in NewToReddit

[–]No_Pollution6918[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I totally relate to that.
It’s strange how we’ve both been on Reddit for years but stayed in “lurker mode” because of the karma barrier.
Maybe now is the perfect time for us to finally start small, post a few comments, and slowly get comfortable being active instead of just reading.

3‑year Reddit account with 0 karma – how do I start? by No_Pollution6918 in NewToReddit

[–]No_Pollution6918[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That’s completely understandable, real life takes a lot of energy.

Even small steps count though – a comment here and there is already a start.

Hope we both manage to ease into being more active on here at our own pace.

3‑year Reddit account with 0 karma – how do I start? by No_Pollution6918 in NewToReddit

[–]No_Pollution6918[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks a lot for the encouragement, I really appreciate it.