YouTube Shorts Updates View Count Metrics to Align with TikTok and Instagram:

YouTube has announced a significant update to how it counts views on its Shorts platform. This change, effective March 31, 2025, brings YouTube’s analytics approach for short-form videos closer to that of rivals TikTok and Instagram.

Under the new system, a view will be counted every time a Shorts video starts playing or is replayed, rather than waiting for a certain amount of watch time or seconds viewed. This modification is expected to result in a higher view count for creators, providing a more immediate reflection of viewer interaction.

Impact on Creators and Monetization

YouTube clarified that this change will not impact creator earnings or eligibility for the YouTube Partner Program. Revenue generation and qualification for monetization will continue to depend on 'engaged views', which require a viewer to watch a video for a set period.

The update is meant to give creators a better understanding of how their content performs from the moment it is accessed, aligning YouTube Shorts more closely with how platforms like TikTok and Instagram track view metrics.

For creators who prefer the earlier method of measuring Shorts performance, YouTube will still allow access to those metrics via 'Advanced Mode' in YouTube Analytics.