Do YouTube shorts count towards watch hours? This question has been on the minds of many creators trying to reach the YouTube Partner Program requirements.
When I first started creating short vertical videos for my channel, I was confused about how these videos impacted my watch hours totals.
After diving into YouTube’s policies and testing different content strategies, I discovered some important distinctions every creator should understand.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube Shorts viewed in the Shorts feed do not count towards the 4,000 watch hours requirement
- Shorts viewed as regular videos on your channel page do count towards watch time
- YouTube has a separate monetization structure for Shorts content
- Creating both Shorts and long-form content can maximize your channel growth
- Understanding analytics is important for meeting YouTube Partner Program requirements
Table of Contents
Do YouTube Shorts Count Towards Watch Hours – Understanding the Basics
YouTube Shorts are vertical videos up to 60 seconds in length that appear on a dedicated Shorts shelf and feed.
This format was introduced as YouTube’s answer to competing social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels.
The platform designed Shorts as a new type of content that provides a different viewing experience from traditional YouTube videos.
Using the right YouTube hashtags can significantly improve the visibility of these videos in the platform’s algorithm.
The short vertical format encourages quick, engaging content that can potentially go viral and bring significant exposure to a channel.
YouTube Partner Program Requirements
To join the YouTube Partner Program and monetize content, creators must meet specific eligibility requirements.
The standard criteria include reaching 1,000 subscribers and accumulating 4,000 watch hours within a 12-month period. These watch hours are a critical milestone for creators seeking to earn revenue from their content.
The policy also allows for alternative paths to monetization.
Recently, YouTube updated its requirement structure to include a threshold of 10 million public Shorts views for those who primarily create short-form content.
Many creators specifically wonder do YouTube shorts count towards watch hours when trying to reach these thresholds.
The Official Answer: Do Shorts Count Towards Watch Hours?
The definitive answer is that YouTube Shorts count towards watch hours only in specific circumstances.
If viewers watch your Shorts through the dedicated Shorts feed, these views do not count toward your 4,000-hour requirement.
This is because Shorts in the feed operate within a separate ecosystem with a different monetization structure.
However, if someone comes to YouTube and watches your Short as a regular video on your channel page, those minutes will count toward your watch time.
This distinction is important for creators to understand when planning their content strategy.
The Shorts Revenue Sharing Program
Instead of the traditional watch hours model, YouTube has created a separate monetization path for Shorts.
The Shorts Fund evolved into a revenue-sharing program that allows creators to earn based on their Shorts performance.
The amount creators can earn depends on several factors, including view count and audience engagement.
To qualify for this program, creators must meet the standard YouTube Partner Program eligibility or the alternative, Shorts-specific criteria.
This separate system is a key component of the broader YouTube monetization strategy that the platform has been developing to support creators of all content types.
Fun Fact: Over 70% of YouTube Shorts are watched on mobile devices, which is one reason why views from the Shorts feed don’t count toward the 4,000 watch hour requirement
Strategic Approaches for Creators
Smart creators use both formats to maximize their channel’s potential. While Shorts may not directly contribute to watch hours in most cases, they can significantly increase visibility and subscriber count.
Implementing effective hashtags for YouTube shorts can further enhance this discoverability, helping creators reach new audience segments quickly.
A balanced approach involves creating compelling Shorts to attract new audiences while developing longer content that accumulates watch time.
This strategy allows creators to leverage the discovery potential of short videos while still working toward Partner Program requirements.
Tips for Maximizing Both Shorts and Regular Content
Since the answer to do YouTube shorts count towards watch hours is subtle, consider these strategies:
- Create Shorts that include a tip or preview that leads viewers to longer videos
- Analyze which Shorts topics drive subscriber growth
- Repurpose successful long-form content into engaging Shorts
- Use Shorts to build community engagement while focusing on longer videos for watch time
- Consider creating live streams, which can efficiently accumulate watch hours
To optimize both content types, creators should analyze which Shorts topics drive subscriber growth and repurpose successful long-form content into engaging Shorts.
While developing organic reach strategies, some creators buy YouTube short views to give their content initial momentum.
Understanding YouTube analytics for both formats is essential for tracking progress toward monetization goals.
Common Misconceptions About Shorts and Watch Hours
When it comes to growing a channel, many creators misunderstand how Shorts impact watch time.
Misreading YouTube metrics can lead to wasted effort and slow progress toward monetization.
Not All Shorts Count Toward Watch Hours
Many creators assume that every view on a YouTube Short helps them reach the 4,000 watch hours goal.
But that’s not how YouTube watch time works. Only Shorts watched through the regular player (not the Shorts feed) count toward public watch hours.
Knowing which content types actually contribute can help you focus on what really moves your channel forward.
YouTube Isn’t TikTok or Instagram
A lot of confusion comes from comparing YouTube to other social media platforms like TikTok or Instagram Reels. But YouTube metrics are different.
YouTube tracks viewer behavior and watch hours in a unique way, especially when it comes to monetization rules and eligibility. What works on one platform may not help on another.
Policy Updates Changed the Game
As the platform evolved, YouTube made changes to how different content types affect your progress.
While the 4,000 YouTube watch hour requirement remains the same, what counts toward it has shifted.
Why Clarity Matters
Understanding exactly when do YouTube Shorts count towards watch hours can save a lot of time and stress.
Many creators waste energy chasing views that don’t move them closer to monetization.
Knowing how watch hours, content types, and YouTube watch metrics actually work helps you build a smarter and more focused strategy.
Conclusion
Do YouTube shorts count towards watch hours? The answer is nuanced – they generally don’t when viewed in the Shorts feed but do when watched as regular videos on your channel page.
Understanding this distinction is important for those aiming to make money from their content.
The best strategy combines the viral potential of Shorts with the watch time benefits of longer videos, allowing creators to build their channel effectively while working toward YouTube Partner Program eligibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does YouTube Shorts count watch hours?
No, YouTube Shorts viewed in the dedicated Shorts feed do not count toward the 4,000 watch hours requirement for the Partner Program.
However, if viewers watch your Shorts as regular videos on your channel page, those minutes will count toward your total watch time.
What happens if you get 1000 views on YouTube Shorts?
Getting 1000 views on YouTube Shorts doesn’t directly contribute to watch hours when viewed in the Shorts feed.
However, these views may help increase your visibility, potentially leading to more subscribers and views on your longer content.
For monetization, specifically through Shorts, you’d need to reach higher view counts to meet the alternative eligibility path.
Do YouTube short views count towards total views?
Yes, YouTube short views do count toward your total view count for your channel.
While they may not contribute to watch hours when viewed in the Shorts feed, they are included in your overall view statistics and can help with channel growth and visibility.
Does YouTube Shorts count as watch hours on Reddit?
No, discussions on Reddit about YouTube Shorts counting as watch hours often lead to confusion.
The official YouTube policy remains that Shorts viewed in the Shorts feed do not count toward the 4,000 watch hours requirement regardless of where links to those Shorts are shared, including on social media platforms like Reddit.
