Reapplying for YPP

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some advice from people who’ve been through YouTube monetization reviews before.

I run a Shorts channel focused on pop culture and music commentary. A few months ago, especially at the beginning, I posted several videos that were more compilation-style (for example, listing moments with short explanations and then showing clips). Over time I’ve shifted the format a lot, and now my videos are more structured commentary with storytelling, voice-over, captions, zooms, and short interview clips integrated into the narrative.

I was previously rejected for reused content. Since then, I’ve removed some of the most obvious compilation-type videos and improved the format. However, I still have a number of older videos that include short interview clips (around 5–6 seconds at a time) with editing, captions, and context.

I’m trying to figure out the best strategy before reapplying:

Is it better to put older borderline videos on private gradually?

Or is it safer to leave them if the recent content clearly shows a different format and stronger commentary?

I’m also concerned about something else: if I put 10–15 older videos on private, could that cause a noticeable stagnation in views or negatively impact how the algorithm recommends my newer Shorts?

Has anyone here privatized a significant number of older videos before reapplying for monetization? Did it affect your overall growth or daily views?