YouTube Overhauls Shorts View Metrics: What Creators Need to Know

YouTube Shorts View Counting Change

Date of Implementation: March 31, 2025

YouTube has announced a significant change in how views are counted for YouTube Shorts. The new system will switch from a time-based approach to a more straightforward metric.

Current System:

• Views are counted based on the duration a user watches a Short.
• A minimum watch time is required to register as a view.

New System:

• Views will be counted when a clip starts playing or is repeated.
• No minimum watch time requirement, meaning even a one-second interaction counts as a view.
• Repeated views will also count towards the total view count.
• Engaged views (view time) will still be tracked and labeled under advanced creator settings.

Impact:

• Creators can expect more consistent and potentially higher view counts.
• The change aims to better reflect user engagement, especially on mobile and TV platforms.
• YouTube has also recently allowed Shorts up to 3 minutes in length, further expanding the format's potential.

Additional Updates:

• YouTube Music now allows users to fine-tune AI radios and upload custom thumbnails on Android.
• A redesign for the YouTube TV app is being considered due to increased user engagement.
• YouTube Premium Lite is rolling out, offering 'most' videos ad-free for $7.99/month.