YouTube switches long-form view counting to playback-start on August 24

YouTube will count a long-form video view the moment playback begins, effective August 24, 2026, replacing a more conservative threshold-based method. The change aligns long-form videos with YouTube Shorts, Instagram, and TikTok, which already register views at playback start. YouTube is unifying multiple format-specific counting systems into a single rule. Monetization and Partner Program eligibility remain unaffected.