YouTube changes how Shorts views are counted from March 31

YouTube has announced a significant change to how it counts views on Shorts videos. Starting March 31, 2025, the platform will begin counting Shorts views from the moment a video starts to play or replay, with no minimum watch time requirement. This update, announced on March 26, 2025, just three days ago, marks a shift in how YouTube measures content engagement on its short-form video format.

The announcement came from TeamYouTube's Meaghan via the official YouTube Help Center Community forum. "We recognize that you want a deeper understanding of how your short-form videos are performing holistically, including when you're posting across multiple platforms," stated Meaghan in the official announcement post.

Previously, YouTube only counted a view after a Short had been played for a specific number of seconds. The platform has not publicly disclosed what this threshold was, maintaining some algorithmic opacity that has been characteristic of major social media platforms. This change represents a movement toward greater transparency and alignment with industry standards.

The updated counting method will apply to all locations where Shorts views are displayed across YouTube. For many creators, this will likely result in higher view counts moving forward. The change appears designed to provide creators with metrics more comparable to those on competing short-form video platforms, enabling easier cross-platform analytics comparison.

YouTube has retained the original metric, now renamed to "engaged views," which will remain accessible in YouTube Analytics Advanced Mode. According to the announcement, engaged views will show "how many viewers choose to continue watching your Shorts" after the initial impression.

The updated view counting mechanism comes at a time when YouTube has been expanding its Shorts features. In October 2024, the platform extended the maximum length of Shorts from 60 seconds to three minutes, providing creators with more flexibility in their short-form storytelling.

Despite the change in how views are counted, YouTube emphasized that the update will not directly impact creators' earnings or eligibility criteria for the YouTube Partner Program. Both monetization aspects will continue to be based on engaged views rather than the new total views metric.

According to information from YouTube's Help Center, eligibility for the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) with Shorts requires gaining 1,000 subscribers with 10 million valid public Shorts views in the last 90 days. This requirement remains unchanged despite the new view counting method.

The change in view counting methodology comes amid increasing competition in the short-form video space. By aligning its metrics more closely with industry standards, YouTube is providing creators with a more consistent way to measure performance across multiple platforms.

YouTube first launched its Shorts feature globally in July 2021 as a response to the rising popularity of TikTok and Instagram Reels. Since then, it has continuously evolved the format with new features and capabilities. The three-minute expansion announced in October 2024 marked another significant milestone in the platform's short-form content strategy.

The expansion to three-minute Shorts came with specific guidelines regarding content claims. According to YouTube's Help Center documentation, any Short over one minute in duration with an active Content ID claim of any type will be blocked globally on YouTube. "The video will not be playable or recommended on YouTube, and will not be eligible for monetization," the documentation states. YouTube clarified that there are no penalties to the creator's channel in such cases, and they may remove the claimed content from their videos or file a dispute if they believe the claim was made in error.

For Shorts under one minute, the platform maintains its previous policies regarding content claims and music usage. Creators can use any song available in the Shorts Audio Library when their Short is up to one minute in length. For videos over one minute, they may use royalty-free music from the YouTube Audio Library.

The platform has also implemented specific rules for Official Artist Channels. Videos that are square or taller in aspect ratio and are over one minute in length for Official Artists Channels or channels linked to a music Content Owner will continue to function as long-form videos rather than Shorts.

YouTube's approach to Shorts demonstrates a careful balance between encouraging creator innovation and protecting rights holders. The documentation makes it clear that "Shorts that are blocked globally on YouTube will not be eligible for monetization," reinforcing the platform's commitment to rights management.

The Shorts ecosystem on YouTube continues to evolve with additional creative features. Creators can enhance their Shorts with various tools available in the YouTube app, including adding music, applying filters, and using other effects to enhance their recordings. The platform also offers AI-generated features like Dream Track for soundtracks and Dream Screen for content generation.

YouTube Shorts has become an increasingly important discovery mechanism on the platform. According to YouTube's documentation, viewers may find Shorts by tapping the Shorts icon at the bottom of the YouTube app, where they can scroll through a continuous stream of videos in the Shorts Feed. Additionally, Shorts appear in search results across YouTube, on the homepage, featured on channel homepages, in subscriptions, and notifications.

The importance of Shorts is further underscored by their contribution to channel growth. YouTube notes that "subscribers gained from watching your Shorts count toward Creator Awards Program milestones," incentivizing creators to incorporate the format into their content strategy.

For creators concerned about their content being automatically classified as Shorts, YouTube advises using a wider aspect ratio such as 16:9 for long-form videos. This gives creators control over how their content is categorized and presented on the platform.

The upcoming view counting change represents YouTube's response to creator feedback and changing industry standards. By providing a more holistic view of content performance, YouTube aims to help creators "inform your content strategy, better represent your work to potential brand or agency partners, and give you a fuller picture of your overall reach if you're posting on multiple platforms," according to the announcement.

The change also reflects the growing significance of short-form video in the digital content ecosystem. As attention spans evolve and consumption habits shift, platforms like YouTube continue to adapt their metrics and features to better serve both creators and viewers.

For content creators operating across multiple platforms, the updated view counting mechanism provides a more standardized way to compare performance. This could potentially simplify analytics and reporting for creators who maintain a presence on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and other platforms.

YouTube's commitment to transparency is evident in its decision to maintain access to the original engaged views metric. This allows creators to track both overall impressions and deeper engagement, providing a more nuanced understanding of content performance.

The platform's approach to Shorts monetization continues to evolve alongside its measurement methodologies. Since introducing revenue sharing for Shorts in February 2023, YouTube has been refining its monetization policies to balance creator earnings with advertiser needs.

YouTube's documentation emphasizes that "Shorts that show up in the Shorts Feed are eligible for monetization and are subject to the YouTube Shorts monetization policies." This clarification helps creators understand where and how their content can generate revenue.

The upcoming change to view counting represents just one aspect of YouTube's broader strategy for short-form content. As the format continues to evolve, creators can expect further refinements to analytics, monetization, and discovery mechanisms.

For viewers, the change in view counting methodology will likely have minimal impact on their experience. The update primarily affects creator-facing metrics rather than user interface or recommendation algorithms.

YouTube's continued investment in Shorts indicates the format's strategic importance to the platform's future. As digital video consumption patterns continue to evolve, short-form content remains a critical growth area for content platforms.

The upcoming change to Shorts view counting will take effect globally on March 31, 2025, with no action required from creators. The transition should be seamless, with the new metrics automatically appearing wherever Shorts views are displayed.

Timeline of YouTube Shorts Evolution

• July 2021: YouTube Shorts launches globally after limited testing
• February 2023: YouTube introduces revenue sharing for Shorts creators
• October 15, 2024: YouTube extends maximum Shorts length from 60 seconds to three minutes
• March 26, 2025: YouTube announces change to Shorts view counting methodology
• March 31, 2025: New Shorts view counting goes into effect globally