4 MISTAKES Killing Your YouTube Views Right Now

In 2026, the rules of YouTube have changed. Strategies that worked years ago are now outdated, and if you want your channel to thrive, you must adapt to the new AI-driven landscape.

The YouTube algorithm now integrates Google Gemini, an advanced AI that decodes your video content to find the perfect audience. The key to winning in this era is simplicity. The more you overcomplicate your videos, the less the algorithm understands them.

Here are the four things you need to stop doing immediately to ensure your channel grows.

1. Stop Excessive or Misplaced Hashtags

Many creators still put hashtags in their video titles. Stop doing this. People search for keywords like “How to spend Christmas,” not “#Christmas.” Titles are for discovery; hashtags are for categorization.

  • The Rule: Keep hashtags in your description only.

  • The Limit: Use 2 to 4 specific hashtags. Using too many is seen as spamming and can lead to demonetization or channel termination under YouTube’s 2026 policies.

  • Pro Tip: If you aren’t sure which keywords to use, it is better to use no hashtags at all than to use the wrong ones.

2. Stop “Self-Watching” on the Same Device

Using one phone to switch between multiple Gmail accounts to boost your views is a channel killer. YouTube tracks Unique Viewers based on device IDs and locations.

  • The Issue: When you watch your own video repeatedly on one device, it sends a single-location signal to the algorithm. This prevents YouTube from pushing your video to a global audience.

  • The Solution: If you must check your video, do it once from a separate device and move on. Focus on what you can control: content quality. Once you upload, your job is done; the algorithm takes over based on the value you provided.

3. Stop Using Random or Irrelevant Tags

Tags aren’t the “magic pill” they used to be—they now only contribute about 5% to 10% to your video’s success. A clear title, a solid description, and a high-quality thumbnail are far more important.

  • The Proof: I recently posted a video that gained 84,000 views in one month with zero tags.

  • The Danger: Bombarding a video with wrong or “junk” tags confuses the algorithm. It won’t know who to show your video to.

  • The Strategy: Only use tags if they are highly specific. If you don’t know the right keywords, leave the tag section empty and let your content speak for itself.

4. End “Sub-for-Sub” and Begging for Subscribers

The phrase “Small YouTubers gather here” is a death sentence for your channel in 2026. Google Gemini can now detect “dead” or inactive subscribers.

  • Why it fails: If someone subscribes to you from a comment section without watching your content, they won’t engage with your future videos.

  • The “Vanishing” Subscriber: If a new subscriber doesn’t watch at least 2 or 3 of your videos, YouTube’s system flags them as a bot or “spam” and removes them. This is why your subscriber count drops overnight.

  • The Mindset: You don’t “look” for subscribers; you attract them. Focus on the input (great videos), and the output (subscribers and watch hours) will follow naturally.

Success in 2026 is about working with the AI, not trying to trick it. Keep your optimization clean, your content valuable, and your growth organic.