08/24/2026
YouTube changed the way they count views, so instead of counting actual engaged views, they count it from the moment the first frame of a video starts playing. So if someone scrolls past my video on the main page and the preview starts rolling, that counts as a view.
YouTube claims this will help creators like myself by showing potential sponsors and brands my "true reach." (Basically admitting to fudging numbers to make you look better).
That's complete bu****it. In less than a week, all it's done is completely wreck my Audience Retention and Average View Duration, causing my earnings to be cut in half. You're paid based on Retention and Watch Hours, so adding more views with no watch hours cuts all that down drastically.
This, and raising the requirements to get monetized in the first place are nothing but cost cutting maneuvers and attempts to increase profits directly to YouTube. None of it actually helps creators.
Last week, and two weeks ago, my videos had 1/3 of the views they're getting now, but earned twice as much. YouTube is doing nothing but lining their own pockets.
