A big change is coming to YouTube, as of August 24, views will register the moment a video begins to play. The older, stricter count survives in analytics as 'engaged views.' The platform will now count a public view from the first frame of playback across every format — long-form video, podcasts and live streams included.
The change brings the rest of YouTube in line with Shorts, which moved to first-frame counting in March 2025, this also matches how TikTok and Instagram register views.
Check out the YouTube profile in the Media Marketplace to learn more about their products and solutions that help advertisers.
Access our exclusive written and audio recaps as part of the Media Marketplace - helping media buyers make better, smarter, faster decisions — and look like rockstars to clients and bosses.
This content is available to Canadian Ad Inside subscribers.
