Starting March 31, YouTube will change how it counts views on Shorts. Previously, a viewer needed to watch a Short for a few seconds before it registered as a view. Now, any play, even if brief, will count as a view.
How YouTube will count the view
This update brings YouTube’s method in line with platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels, which count a view each time a video starts or replays. YouTube aims to provide creators with a clearer understanding of their Shorts’ performance, offering a comprehensive view of reach across platforms
Despite the change, YouTube will continue tracking the previous metric, now termed “engaged views,” in its analytics dashboard. This metric will still determine creator earnings and eligibility for the YouTube Partner Program. While overall view counts may rise, monetization and program eligibility will remain based on engaged views.
Good or bad idea?
You may remember when Facebook faced a class-action lawsuit over allegedly inflating video view metrics between 2014 and 2016. Advertisers claimed Facebook misrepresented how long users watched videos, leading them to invest more in video ads under false pretenses.
However, with YouTube’s Shorts update, YouTube assured that it had maintained its “engaged views” metric for monetization so that inflated view counts won’t distort earnings or ad performance.
A note for creators
Creators should note that higher view counts might not directly lead to increased earnings. It’s essential to focus on producing engaging content that encourages viewers to watch longer, as engaged views remain the basis for monetization.
This adjustment reflects YouTube’s effort to standardize view counting across platforms, ensuring consistency in performance metrics.