YouTube to count views from first frame in policy shift

YouTube will change how it counts public views from August 24, counting a view as soon as playback starts from the first frame across long-form videos, Shorts, and live streams. The change will not affect creator earnings or YPP eligibility, which still rely on engaged views and watch-time. It follows policy updates targeting inauthentic content and raising YPP entry thresholds for new creators from February 2027.