YouTube will count a view the moment a video starts playing from August 24, with no minimum watch time across uploads, Shorts and live streams worldwide. According to BeInCrypto, the platform is renaming the stricter metric as Engaged views in YouTube Analytics, while payouts for long-form, live and Shorts content will still rely on engaged watch hours or engaged Shorts views. YouTube also said new Partner Program applicants will face higher thresholds from February 1, 2027.