In a digital era where algorithms shape our everyday content choices, new research suggests that a significant portion of the material appearing on YouTube-u is no longer driven by original user ideas or professional production.
According to the analysis conducted by the video editing company Kapwing, more than 20% of the videos that YouTube’s algorithm recommends to new users are so-called. Back up slop – low-quality videos generated by artificial intelligence, designed to attract as many views and clicks as possible.
The research covered the 15,000 most popular YouTube channels around the world — that is, the 100 most watched in each country — and found that 278 channels contained entirely Back up slop content. Together, these channels have amassed more than 63 billion views and have approximately 221 million subscribers, and are estimated to generate approximately $117 million in annual revenue.
To arrive at this percentage, the researchers created a brand new YouTube account with no viewing history or personalized recommendations. Based on the initial suggested videos, the algorithm showed that as many as 104 of the first 500 suggested videos fall into the category Back up slop. About a third of those recommendations were marked as brain rota broader term that includes similar low-quality content created to “capture” the user’s attention without any real context or informational value.
Phenomenon Back up slop not necessarily the result of YouTube’s efforts to promote quality content, writes PC Mag. On the contrary, many of these videos use generative AI to quickly produce large amounts of content, such as fantastic scenes, bizarre narratives or repetitive formats designed to hold attention for as long as possible. While it’s not always clear how such content qualifies for monetization under the platform’s current rules, it’s clear that the algorithm sometimes favors material that maximizes engagement, regardless of its originally human or AI nature.
The global distribution of these channels is impressive, with millions of subscribers not only in the US and Europe, but also in Asia, Africa and Latin America. For example, in Spain, almost half of the population follows the trend of the “AI slop” channel, while millions of subscribers are also found in Egypt, Brazil and other countries.
YouTube has officially stated that generative AI in itself is not a problem and that it focuses on connecting users with quality content, regardless of whether it is created by human hands or with the help of technology. However, moderation of such massively distributed material is a challenge for the platform, especially when algorithmic systems strive to keep users within their recommendations as long as possible.
This trend raises broader questions about the future of digital platforms and the role of artificial intelligence in content creation. If algorithmic recommendations and monetization structures continue to favor quantity over quality, users could increasingly be exposed to superficial or manipulative formats. At the same time, it poses a dilemma for creators and platforms on how to balance AI-based innovation and preserving authentic, useful and informative content on the Internet.