August 18, 2026 | 06:19 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – YouTube will change how it counts video views on its platform starting August 24, 2026. Under the new system, a view will be counted as soon as a video starts playing or when a viewer joins a live stream.
TechCrunch reported Monday, August 17, as cited by Antara, that the change will apply to YouTube's regular videos and live streams.
What is changing?
YouTube has never publicly explained in detail how it previously calculated views. However, viewers and creators have generally understood that a view was counted after someone watched a video for at least 30 seconds.
Under the new system, a view will be recorded immediately when a video starts playing. For live streams, a view will be counted when someone joins the broadcast.
YouTube introduced a similar approach to counting views for Shorts about a year ago.
The system is also similar to those used by competing platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, which count views from the moment a video starts playing.
Why is YouTube changing its view-counting system?
In an announcement on the YouTube Community forum, the company said it had previously used different systems to count views across different content formats.
YouTube said the update aims to reduce confusion among creators about the metrics used on the platform and make it easier for them to understand the actual reach of their content.
However, the change could result in significantly higher view counts, particularly for videos that attract viewers for only a short period.
This means a video's total view count may become less useful as a standalone measure of its popularity or ability to keep viewers watching.
What happens to the old view metric?
YouTube will continue to provide the previous view metric, which will now be called Engaged views.
Creators will be able to find the metric through YouTube Analytics. It will show how many viewers chose to continue watching a video rather than simply opening or playing it.
The distinction could give creators a clearer picture of how effectively their content holds an audience, particularly as the headline view count becomes easier to trigger.
Will the change affect creator earnings?
YouTube said the new view-counting system will not affect creator earnings or the eligibility requirements for monetization through the YouTube Partner Program.
The change is therefore primarily about how YouTube measures and displays audience reach, rather than how creators are paid.
What are YouTube's new monetization requirements?
The update comes just one week after YouTube announced new thresholds for creators seeking to earn money from advertising and subscriptions on the platform.
Starting next year, creators seeking to monetize their YouTube channels will need at least 8,000 hours of eligible watch time over the previous 12 months or 20 million eligible Shorts views within 90 days.
The current requirements are 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of watch time over the previous 12 months, or 1,000 subscribers and 10 million eligible Shorts views within 90 days.
The changes mean creators will need to pay closer attention not only to how many people start watching their videos, but also to how many remain engaged with the content.
Why Indonesia Mulls Action Against YouTube over Vape Promotion
15 hari lalu
The vape promotion violated Indonesia's Health Law and YouTube's own community guidelines.
Indonesia Warns YouTube Over Vape Livestream Featuring Children
15 hari lalu
Indonesia warns YouTube over a vape livestream featuring children, demanding content removal and stronger moderation to protect minors online.
US: Google's YouTube Settles Teen Mental Health Lawsuit
55 hari lalu
A Florida teenager said YouTube's addictive design contributed to depression, anxiety and sleep loss.
Backrooms: The Creepy Internet Phenomenon, Explained
4 Juni 2026
A low-budget horror film directed by a 20-year-old YouTuber is beating new Star Wars movie at the box office. Here's what to know about Backrooms.
YouTube Complies With Indonesia's PP Tunas Regulation on User Age Limits
23 April 2026
YouTube officially complying with Indonesia's PP Tunas Regulation, which imposes stricter age limit rules on platform access and content governance.
Indonesia Warns YouTube Over Child Protection Rules
15 April 2026
The Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) has declared that YouTube has not yet met the requirements of PP Tunas.
Users Report 90-Second Unskippable Ads on YouTube
9 April 2026
This longer advertisement reportedly appears on the YouTube TV app, not on mobile devices.
Meta, YouTube Found Liable in US Social Media Addiction Case
26 Maret 2026
California jury declared that social media giants Meta and YouTube were liable for harming a young woman by designing their platforms to be addictive.
Indonesia Bans Social Media Accounts for Children Under 16
6 Maret 2026
Indonesia's Komdigi bans children under 16 from using platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox.
YouTube Targets Ad Blockers, Pushes Users to Premium?
19 Februari 2026
Video-sharing platform YouTube is reportedly adopting a new tactic to attract more premium subscribers and ad viewers.
