Last updated on 30th October 2023
The idea of a social media video view sounds simple enough: someone clicks play and you’ve got a view, right? Not necessarily. What counts as a view on YouTube isn’t the same as what counts as a view on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok.
Here’s a clear explanation of what YouTube, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram each considers to be a “view” on their respective sites:
What counts as a view on YouTube?
Does rewatching a YouTube video count as a view?
Yes, rewatching a YouTube video does count as an additional view, as long as each view is by a real person and meets the 30 second threshold. The view count reflects the total number of times a video has been watched.
Is watching 3 seconds of a YouTube video considered a view?
No, watching just 3 seconds of a YouTube video does not count as a view. The video has to be watched for around 30 seconds before it is considered a view.
Does YouTube count views from the same IP address?
YouTube wants views to come from real people, so it likely discounts or filters out multiple views from the same IP address if they seem suspicious or bot-generated. But valid views from the same IP, such as in a school or office, do seem to be counted.
Are YouTube views accurate?
Not always. The view count is meant to be accurate but YouTube admits it isn’t perfect. The algorithm needs to verify views are from real people and not bots, which takes time, leading to inaccuracies early on. View counts may even freeze while being double-checked.
What counts as a view on Facebook?
Does rewatching a Facebook video count as a view?
Yes, rewatching a Facebook video does count as an additional view, as long as each viewing meets the 3 second threshold. The view count reflects total times watched.
Does Facebook count multiple views from the same person?
Yes, Facebook will count multiple views from the same person as long as each view meets the standard 3 second threshold. Facebook is less strict than YouTube in verifying views.
How accurate are Facebook views?
Facebook views are generally considered less accurate than YouTube. Facebook relies more on self-reported numbers and does less verification that each view is from a real person. The numbers may be inflated by some fake views.
What counts as a view on Instagram?
Does rewatching an Instagram video count as a view?
Yes, rewatching an Instagram video counts as an additional view, assuming each viewing hits the 3 second mark. The total view count reflects the total times a video has been watched.
Does watching a reel on a Story count as a view?
No, watching a reel within an Instagram Story does not count as a view of that reel. A “view” of a Story is just an impression. Only watching the full reel by itself counts.
Does watching my own reel count as a view?
No, watching your own reel does not count as a view. Only views by other people count towards the view total. Your own views of your content do not get included in the count.
What counts as a view on TikTok?
What counts as a view on TikTok profile?
On a TikTok profile, the view count shows the total number of times your videos have started playing automatically for at least 1 second. It includes both original videos and reposted videos.
How do you measure views on TikTok?
TikTok measures views by counting the number of times a video starts playing for at least 1 second (3 secs for longer videos). This aims to only count real views by users, not bots or spam. The profile view count totals all views.
How much does TikTok pay per 1,000 views?
TikTok does not have a standard rate per 1,000 views. Payments to creators are based on many factors like follower count, engagement, video production value, and advertising demand. Top creators may earn several cents per 1,000 views.
