This is terrible right?
And it rewards AI slop instead of thoughtful content that engages viewers.
Always had a lot of respect for YouTube as a platform, so this is quite sad.
Starting 8/24, views will count the moment a video begins to play (w/ no minimum watch time) across all formats (VOD, Shorts, & Live). We’re standardizing views to reflect creators’ true exposure across YouTube, making it easier to show their value to brand partners.
This update won't impact creator earnings or YPP eligibility.
Details: