View Counts on YouTube
Since I get asked this question EVERY SINGLE DAY “How can your views be less than your ratings? Or comments?” Or, since I get accused of creating view-count-fraud, I thought it might be a good idea to tell you how the views are counted on YouTube and how the ratings and comments can get ahead of the views as well. I might actually make a video about this in the near future as the confusion seems to happen most on YouTube itself.
So, here goes.
When a video is uploaded to YouTube, the view counter is pretty much real-time. The ratings counter is also real-time as well as the comment counter. But then ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE when the views hit around 308 views!
At around 308 views, the VIEW COUNTER STOPS COUNTING while the Ratings and Comments counters continue to tabulate.
The views counter WILL NOT UPDATE FOR ANOTHER 4 to 6 hours, while the ratings and comments continue to increase in real-time.
At this point, take a look at the comments on any video experiencing this and you will see “VIEW COUNT FRAUD!!!” “RATINGS FRAUD!!!!” ”FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD!!!!”
Those comments will be followed by others explaining that the views don’t update in real-time.. but right below those comments will be another stream of “VIEW COUNT FRAUD” comments.
So, what is going on here?
Well, I think the view-counting delay is caused by YouTube analyzing views to see what views are real and what views are fake. The 308 view count number is a little higher than the 207 count number that the counter used to freeze at, but I think that YouTube actually starts analyzing views at 307 and they don’t publish an update until they have determined what views are legitimate and what views are fake. This prevents people from taking over the most viewed pages with fake views.
As an example of fake views in the past, there was a guy who created a gossip channel last year. He took his videos and embedded them 200 times on his MySpace page with autoplay on and then hit reload repeatedly. He managed to get to the most viewed page time and time again until YouTube shut him down for terms of use violations. This delay in counting views is a direct result of these kinds of abuses of the system.
So, that’s what’s going on with the view counts being less than the ratings and comment counts. Don’t freak out if your views freeze for even as long as a whole day! YouTube is not messing with you.. they are just analyzing your views before they publish an updated number.
If you have any additional questions about this or other things about YouTube, let me know in the comments below.
Thank you for clearing this up. My question is why can’t the people at Youtube do what you just did?
Marina, you did an excellent job as always in reporting technical information that is very informative and very well written. What you say is accurate.
I would like to add some additional information right from YouTube’s Blog/Help pages.
YouTube views issues go back as far as 2006 and maybe even earlier. There are a lot of blogs that talk this topic and the problem is that YouTube is not clear on a lot of issues, so there is a lot of speculation about what views mean and how they are tabulated. In other words, what is the definition of a view.
Marina wrote an excellent article on Views and Honors back in Oct 15, 2008.
Ok I guess they did. Tnks for answering that question before I posted my question. Boy your fast!!!!!
Part of the problem about YT not being clear on how views are tabulated is in turn they would revival the secret how the system works and open YT to gamers.
Something else I notice. People don’t like to read. They would rather watch a video explaining the system. YT needs to realize that many of their viewers don’t like to read. Hence why they are on YT in the first place.
You hit that aversion to reading point right on the head.
So “embedded” means if you post/embed the video to another web page, that video starts when I open the page and DOESN’T wait for me to push play? Like how it auto-plays on your YT page?
No, you can embed a video to auto play
Speaking of auto play. The issue I found with the play back skipping on some computers. Your videos default to HD, which requires a good video card that can play HD content. I tested this on two city library computers and found this skipping issue on their systems.
I also went to two coffee shops that had computers for customer use and had the same issue. I wonder how many people don’t know that you need to click on the big red HD button to turn off HD for improved playback? How many people just give up and go elsewhere when they encounter such an issue?
Regarding:
“Your videos default to HD”
Hello Captain Jack,
That is not a true statement. Marina could set the default via a query string in the URL, for example adding &fmt=22 which would play the video in HD mode, if you were to click on one of her links that she is in charge of. But, that is not the case. You are usually not clicking on links Marnia created. You are clicking either on other sites or YouTube links.
When you visit the HotForWords channel, lets say and you pick a video to play on the video page, that video quality will depend on your settings or the settings of those places that you have visited.
By default, without logging into your account, any HFW video plays at the lowest quality and one must click on the button to go to HD or HQ.
If you are logged into your account, or if you are using someone else’s account (ie coffee shop, library), then they are responsible for those settings.
Log into your YouTube account, click on Account, then look at the far left. See where it says “Playback Setup”?
That’s where you can change the defaults. That means those places have their radio buttons set to the third position. Tell them to set it to the first radio button.
The fact that a video skips is either a combination of poor networking (how many places still have 10K stuff on their premises mixed with 100k? Many idiots out there)
Most, PCs are not adjusted properly cause no one cares.
Even after the video has fully loaded it’s still skips. Also note when someone logs out of a library computers all the cookies and settings are deleted for security of the guests.
All I know is that the HD button is lit up red without logging in to YouTube prior to visiting HFW site.
What’s worse is even with the button off, the skipping decreases yet it’s still there. What is the minimum video card requirements for video playback of HD videos? Then I would like to address how many people/schools/libraries/cafes have or don’t have these cards in their computers?
I have a third question is how is this affecting everyone one else? I can’t be the only one experiencing this or am I? I didn’t get a response the last time I asked this question.
Hello Captain Jack,
One of the most popular video cards is the
Nvidia GeForce 7300 SE which comes in either 256 or 512 MB versions. I have that card with 512 MB.
Actually, it is a low end card and if I remember correctly it cost somewhere around $45 a few years back.
Also, you want to make sure that the video card matches the video bus that you have such as PCI Express or whatever, not just PCI.
But, throwing a video card at any ole system may not solve the issue if the system is built like crap. Those public systems probably have all kinds of anitvirus crap installed like McAffe which sucks and will screw up video viewing. Those public systems also have other kinds of stuff running in the background which will mess stuff up.
Regarding the HD button being Red, meaning that HD is selected means that they did some tweaking of the Flash video decoder. People just throw things together without thinking.
You are correct, you are NOT the only one having those issues. I have donated my free time, free of charges to help thousands of people over the last few years get online with video for very little money.
The public institutions are in shambles for the most part and in fact, one of the richest counties in the US (old money) has the most F*cked up infrastructure of the whole US in roads and technology. It’s pathetic. I have traveled all over the US and Canada and it is a shame what goes on out there.
In fact, I just talked to the ATT tel man at the B-box down the street, and the stories we shared would make your stomach turn.
I hope I answered your question.
So what your are saying is that I should go out and buy new video cards for libraries/coffee shops/schools/etc so they can enjoy HD? Im not that rich! Besides most inexpensive computers have built in video on the mother boards. Not an easy fix.
So if the machines are miss configured I need to visit all these locations and re-configure them?
Yes it true people just throw things together so they can just collect their paycheck and go to the bar and get drunk. That’s the problem with many managers are getting lazy in quality control of there products and services. I have an old electric shaver that survived a war. My new one was twice the price and is very high tech. The damn thing cuts like crap. It much slower at cutting. The plastic parts break. Shall I go on? People just don’t care anymore about their work. Just look at the US auto industry for example. GM, the worlds largest (formerly) couldn’t give us the best cars and trucks.
Yes I totally agree with you about the public institutions are in shambles. What’s even worse is these libraries I visited are nearly BRAND NEW. The paint is still drying.
The problem I see with YouTube going to HD is that they fail to address these issues about lower level machines. They could do a better job of implementing HQ and HD content on other machines.
I see a larger issue is that how many people are not enjoying Youtube as they could be if YT would better manage the different video systems. Also does this affect YouTube Views?
I’m well aware about video cards. I had just bought a new card to replace GF 7300 on a box I was going to buy. The guy took my money and ran. That’s the last time I’ll use ebay!
Hey Jack mine plays in regular mode when I watch Marina’s YT site. There is a section in your account that says Playback Setup and it lets you play back any video in regular or it lets you permanently set it to play in HD if your graphics card will let you. So maybe your YT site is set to the HD settings without you knowing it. Here is a picture of what the Playback Setup looks like. http://i28.tinypic.com/2lw39c1.jpg
Hi Mike! Thanks for you help on that past issue btw. It really help smooth out the rough edges.
Im not talking about any setting on the YT pages. Im talking about default setting for Joe Blow that visits HFW site for the first time without having a YT account. I’m also talking about public accessed computer were the systems admin does not allow adjusting any controls on there computers. Default setting are critical to best be compatible for lower powered computer systems that are commonly found.
I have the same problem with the video skipping or not syncing with the audio. It is worse in HD. Strangely I do not have this problem with other YouTube video’s. Also while I’m at it the audio could be louder. Other than that these lessons are the highlight of my day.
Errol, thank you for your response. I was sure I was not the only one with this problem.
I find the audio just fine on my machine. I use the speaker in my monitor. I have a better set of amplified speakers in my storage unit.
well, at least it generates more comments. that’s good for you, right(?)
Since I make 5 cents a comment, totally!!
That’s another story, by the way!
[nickel]…Melanie – The Nickel Song…I dare you research this song and the nickel gamble. God bless Marina
I’m going to start make extremely long comments on your YT videos…only its going to be at the rate of one word per comment!
The only catch is you have to twitpic which pair of Christian Louboutins I was responsible for.
Oh Hell yea sounds like a plan better yet everyone should rag on all the haters when they say such terrible things
You’re kidding right?
What’s the story? Is it that spreading the rumor that the channel gets 5c/comment will make the nuts stop commenting?
Well, I didn’t know that you got paid for the comments! I think I will have to comment at YT more often too now.
You make 5 cents a comment?
That’s a rip off, because I get 10 cents for making one!
Checking in, What the haps?
Oh it’s gaming your views, ppl are such cheats cuz they got no talent.
of course the commentor who dares to question gets marked down or perhaps it was the misuse of the perverted 69.
Know now why bread, to eat takes more working hours to earn the [dough]…entertainment cheapens the real value
of money.
…[Oshkosh]
Oh your so slick ieonard.
You shouldn’t tell people about Class B stocks. It just makes everyone angry. heheh good job!
so 308 is the magic number then, hmmm…
308 can’t be magic!
It’s not a multiple of The Ultimate Answer!
No, there is no magic number that I know of.
I have a YT test channel where the views have
been stuck at 344 and those views went from
1 to 344 in real time.
I see other YT channels have theor counts
frozen at other numbers as well.
hmmm. let me read and find out.
My feet are wet, not from sweat, but from the veiws of you tube….peace forWords
THE TAKE OVER
This soup it good, for, Genna