YouTube is shaking up the way it counts views on its short-form video feature, YouTube Shorts, to give creators a more comprehensive understanding of their content's performance. The video-sharing giant announced on Wednesday that it will now count views based on the number of times a Short starts to play or replays, rather than requiring a certain number of seconds to be viewed.

This change marks a significant shift in how YouTube measures engagement on its platform. Previously, a view was only counted after a Short was viewed for a certain number of seconds. As a result, view counts are expected to increase moving forward, providing creators with a more accurate picture of their reach and engagement.

According to YouTube, the update was driven by creator feedback, with many requesting a more nuanced understanding of how their Shorts are performing. By tracking starts and replays, creators can now better showcase their reach and inform their content strategy, making it easier to attract brand partners and monetize their content.

The new metric brings YouTube Shorts in line with its competitors, TikTok and Instagram Reels, which also track views based on starts and replays. This alignment will enable creators to more easily compare their performance across multiple platforms, providing a more comprehensive understanding of their short-form video strategy.

For creators who still want to track engaged views, YouTube will continue to provide this metric in "Advanced Mode" within YouTube Analytics. This will allow creators to see how many viewers choose to continue watching their Shorts beyond the initial start or replay. Notably, the update will not impact creators' earnings or eligibility for the YouTube Partner Program, which will continue to be based on engaged views.

The change is set to take effect on March 31, marking a significant milestone in YouTube's efforts to improve creator insights and engagement on its platform. As the short-form video landscape continues to evolve, this update is likely to have a profound impact on the way creators approach their content strategy and monetization efforts.

With this move, YouTube is demonstrating its commitment to providing creators with the tools and insights they need to succeed in an increasingly competitive landscape. As the platform continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how this update impacts creator behavior and the broader short-form video ecosystem.