Do upload frequency spikes hurt or help a channel?

Some say posting too often confuses the algorithm.

Others say it boosts visibility.

does it hurt? in the long run it doesn't.....however if your starting out, you need to increase your trust score with the youtube algo and that means consistent upload frequency and more activity. Its easier for the algo to understand your channel's behavior/ pattern and it can start suggesting your videos quicker. Once you do get a consistent flow of views and subscribers and etc, then you can change the frequency of updates, because the algo can always reset to your channel's pattern.