YouTube is making a major change to how it counts views on Shorts, which could lead to a noticeable spike in numbers for creators. Starting March 31, every time a Short starts playing (or replays) it will be logged as a view, regardless of how long someone watches.
The update brings YouTube’s short-form video metric in line with competitors like TikTok and Instagram Reels, which count a view the moment playback begins. Previously, YouTube required a Short to be watched for a certain number of seconds before registering a view.
The change, YouTube said, comes in response to creator feedback. Many users wanted a clearer picture of how often their Shorts are being seen, which prompted the company to revise its approach.
Despite the adjustment, YouTube is not discarding its previous metric entirely. A separate “engaged views” count measuring people who actively choose to watch Shorts will still be available in YouTube Analytics. This figure will remain the basis for calculating ad revenue, meaning that while total view counts may rise, earnings will continue to be linked to engagement rather than passive plays.
