YouTube Shorts will count views even if you scroll past

The Verge - Mar 26th, 2025

YouTube is set to change the way it counts views for Shorts, aligning its metrics with those of TikTok and Instagram. Starting March 31st, YouTube will count each time a Short is played or replayed, rather than waiting for a specific duration to elapse, as it previously did. The platform aims to offer creators a more consistent view count across different platforms, which could enhance their content strategy and representation to brands and agencies. With this update, YouTube anticipates that view counts may rise, although it will continue to track the former metric as 'engaged views' for purposes of earnings and eligibility for the YouTube Partnership Program.

This shift in YouTube's view-counting approach reflects the platform's efforts to remain competitive in the short-form video space dominated by TikTok and Instagram. By aligning its metrics with these popular platforms, YouTube aims to provide creators with a unified understanding of their audience reach, especially those who post across multiple platforms. This change not only impacts content creators but also the way potential brand partnerships are formed, as view counts play a significant role in determining a creator's influence and reach. The adjustment underscores YouTube's commitment to adapting to industry standards and supporting its creator community in optimizing their performance and monetization strategies.

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RATING

7.2

Fair Story

Consider it well-founded

The article provides a clear and timely update on YouTube's change in view-counting for Shorts, aligning with industry standards set by TikTok and Instagram. It effectively communicates the potential benefits for creators but could enhance its balance by including more diverse perspectives, particularly from creators themselves. While the article is accurate and well-structured, it would benefit from additional source diversity and transparency regarding potential implications. Overall, it serves as a useful piece for those interested in social media metrics and platform competition, though it leaves some questions about the broader impact unanswered.

Accuracy

The story accurately reports that YouTube is changing its method for counting Shorts views, aligning it with TikTok and Instagram. The claim that view counts may increase is plausible, given the new counting method that starts counting views as soon as a Short is played. The story correctly notes that YouTube will continue to track the old metric under 'engaged views' for analytics purposes, ensuring that creators' earnings and eligibility for the YouTube Partnership Program remain unaffected. However, the story could further verify the exact date of implementation and the specific details of how this change might impact creators' strategies and brand partnerships.

Balance

The article presents a balanced view by explaining both the new and old methods of counting views. However, it primarily focuses on YouTube's perspective and the potential benefits for creators. There is a lack of commentary from creators or industry experts who might provide a more nuanced view of the change's impact. Including perspectives from creators who may be skeptical or concerned about the change would enhance the balance.

Clarity

The article is clear and concise, effectively communicating the change in YouTube's view-counting method. It uses straightforward language and a logical structure, making it easy for readers to understand the key points. However, the article could benefit from additional explanations or examples of how the new counting method might differ in practice from the previous one.

Source quality

The story relies on a statement from YouTube, which is a credible and authoritative source for information about its platform. However, the article does not cite additional sources or expert opinions to provide a broader context or independent verification. Including insights from social media analysts or creators could improve the source quality by offering diverse perspectives.

Transparency

The article is transparent about the source of its information, citing YouTube's announcement. However, it does not provide detailed information on how the change was discovered or the methodology behind the new counting system. More transparency regarding the potential implications for creators and brands, as well as any limitations of the new system, would enhance the article.