Recently, Google announced a change in how views are calculated for YouTube Shorts, aiming to provide content creators with a deeper understanding of their short-form content performance.
Previously, views were counted after a Shorts video was watched for a few seconds. Now, views will be tallied each time a creator’s Shorts video starts playing or is replayed. This update is expected to result in higher view counts moving forward.
YouTube explained that this change was made in response to creators wanting to know how often their Shorts are genuinely viewed. The goal is to help creators better showcase their full reach, making it easier to inform content strategies and present their work to potential brand collaborators.
With this update, YouTube Shorts aligns its metrics with TikTok and Instagram Reels, both of which track how many times a user’s video starts or is replayed. YouTube noted that creators can now gain a clearer understanding of their short-form video performance across platforms.
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However, creators interested in the previous Shorts metrics can still access them by enabling “Advanced Mode” in YouTube Analytics. These metrics, now referred to as “engaged views,” will continue to show how many viewers chose to keep watching their Shorts.
According to reports, this change will take effect on March 31, 2025. Active Shorts creators may start noticing the update after this date, potentially leading to increased view counts and performance metrics.
YouTube clarified that this update will not impact content creators’ earnings or their eligibility for the YouTube Partner Program, as both factors will still be based on engaged views rather than the updated metrics.
Via: Tech Crunch
