Creator: going viral is now 50x harder, AI makes up ~50% of Shorts views
heyneighbor · x · 2026-10-09
Creator marketer @theisaacmed recounts how short-form virality difficulty has evolved:
- 2021-2022: no brands competing, he hit 200M views solo from his apartment; quality inventory and skilled creators were rare.
- 2023-2024: each year 10x harder as knowledge spread and creator hiring became possible.
- 2025: 50x harder — AI mass-produces scripts and grunt work; 50% of Shorts views are now AI content.
- 2026: new accounts are extremely hard to grow; top performers remain rare, and by late 2026 AI can handle editing too, dominating content even further.
Implication for brands and MCNs: the organic content window is closing fast; talent plus AI workflows is the new scarcity.
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