The number of creators and posts (supply) is at an all-time high, while user time on social media (demand) has plateaued or declined since 2020. This economic imbalance naturally leads to fewer views per post for everyone, a phenomenon often misinterpreted as an algorithmic penalty or shadowban.
Posting content just for the sake of it is counterproductive. Low-quality, non-engaging content actively harms your reach by signaling to social media algorithms that users are not interested in your brand. This suppresses visibility for all future posts. It's better to post less frequently with higher quality.
Even top creators see massive view drops on YouTube. This isn't a sign of a shrinking platform but of a mature market where attention is fragmented across Shorts, AI content, and more creators. The opportunity remains, but requires adapting to divided attention.
Due to the "TikTokification" of platforms, algorithms now favor a single piece of content's potential to engage anyone, regardless of who created it. This means sticking to a strict niche is no longer required for high views and reach, though it remains important for gaining followers.
The common frustration of being stuck at 200 views isn't a punishment. It's TikTok's algorithm testing your content on a small sample audience. This "safety zone" allows you to experiment and refine your skills without widespread visibility until you create something that resonates.
Businesses often limit content output fearing audience burnout. In reality, organic posts only reach a tiny fraction (1-2%) of followers. The real bottleneck is the team's ability to produce enough high-value content, not the audience's capacity to consume it.
The algorithm now prioritizes content quality over follower count, leveling the playing field. This removes the historical advantage large accounts had, making it feel like they are being disadvantaged or "shadowbanned" when they are simply competing on equal footing with smaller creators.
Don't blame 'shadow banning' for declining reach. It's a function of supply and demand. As platforms mature, content supply explodes and ad spend increases, all competing for finite user attention. Your reach isn't being punished; it's being outbid in an increasingly crowded attention marketplace.
When social media reach and engagement decline, it's easy to blame the platform's algorithm. However, the more productive mindset is to see it as a reflection of your content's declining quality or relevance. The algorithm isn't hurting everyone, it's hurting those who aren't good. The solution is to improve your craft, innovate, and adapt to cultural trends.
Instagram has changed how it counts views, which may explain recent metric drops. A "view" is no longer counted when a user scrolls past a post on a profile or the Explore page; they must now explicitly tap on it. This corrects artificially high view counts and provides a more accurate metric.
Users often blame algorithms or 'shadow banning' for lack of growth. The actual cause is usually failing to adapt your content strategy as the platform evolves and competition increases. What worked three years ago is no longer effective against a larger volume of content creators.