YouTuber reveals hidden setting that's blocking your videos and you probably don't even know it.
YouTube's algorithm has trained us to expect personalised content based on our viewing habits. If we're regular subscribers to specific creators, their videos should logically show up in our recommendations.
But what happens when that same algorithmic system starts hiding relevant videos from creators you actively follow?
Josh Strife Hayes, who runs a popular gaming channel focused on analytical reviews of games like Tomb Raider and Dragon's Dogma 2, recently exposed a secret setting on YouTube.
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"If you use YouTube, you need to read this. Videos are being hidden and I can prove it," Hayes posted on X.
He explained that YouTube's Restricted Mode setting uses AI to automatically limit which videos appear in your feed. To prove his point, Hayes posted side-by-side screenshots of his channel with Restricted Mode turned off versus on.
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He crossed out the videos 'you would no longer see' with Restricted Mode on.
Several videos, including Hayes' reviews of retro games like Dino Crisis 1+2 and Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2, as well as newer titles like Clair Obscure: Expedition 33, had disappeared.
Hayes added: "Bear in mind these videos has NO restrictions, no age limits, no copyright claims, no mature content beyond limited swearing."
The content creator went on to say that a 2.5 hour Alan Wake video that 'passed all checks and came back with no restrictions' was later blocked by Restricted Mode.
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Similar issues appeared across his MMO-focused channel, where videos with 'no monetisation or age restrictions' were also being hidden.
According to the streamer, the video can become hidden without any prior warning to the creator and without clear reasoning as to why.
If the platform is hiding videos that don't actually violate any guidelines or contain restricted content, it could impact creators' reach and, consequently, their revenue.
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Hayes' post has led other YouTubers and streamers to investigate their own channels.
"Holy crap, my last 6 videos disappear with restricted mode. I don't even swear in my videos. It's like I didn't post anything in the last month. Good investigate work, Josh," one X user replied.
"A damn shame. It’s happening to everyone it seems," another wrote.
"Wow, great breakdown. Gonna investigate for my channel," a third user claimed.
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"Well.... RIP my whole GTA 5 playthrough lmao," someone else remarked.
To check if Restricted Mode is activated on your YouTube account, simply go to the YouTube homepage and click on your profile picture in the top right corner. Look for Restricted Mode in the dropdown menu, and here, you can toggle the setting on and off, provided it hasn't been locked by your network administrator.