Google makes it easier to log more YouTube Shorts views

Google is changing how it counts YouTube Shorts views and for once its good news for creators.

Starting on March 31st, YouTube will display the number of times a Short starts to play or replay rather than counting only after someone watches for a specific length of time. That means even quick swipes now counts as a Shorts view.

The change puts YouTube Shorts in line with how TikTok and Instagram already count views.

“We hope that this deeper understanding of your Shorts performance will help you 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!” said YouTube.

Impact on YouTube Analytics & performance metrics

• “We’ll keep the original Shorts view metric, now called “engaged views,” in YouTube Analytics > Advanced Mode so you can see how many viewers choose to continue watching your Shorts”

Impact on monetization

• “This change will not directly impact your earnings or how you can become eligible for the YouTube Partner Program – both will be based on engaged views”

Google offers more info on YouTube Shorts views and counts here.

Bruce Houghton is the Founder and Editor of Hypebot, a Senior Advisor at Bandsintown, a Berklee College Of Music professor and founder of the Skyline Artists Agency