Join us Dec. 1-3 in Nashville for the Digiday Programmatic Marketing Summit
YouTube’s “301+” view count is down for the count — for good.
For years, newly uploaded videos to the Google-owned company that were quickly racking up views stalled out at 301+ until YouTube could verify the actual number of views that weren’t from spam bots. It wasn’t until hours later that a number was posted.
Well, that’s all over now.
In a tweet from YouTube Creators, the site said it has figured out a way to verify views from people (not bots) so view counts will continue to refresh automatically. YouTube explained it a helpful infographic, seen below:
We’re saying goodbye to 301+ and hello to more up-to-date video views. pic.twitter.com/33OQuOvxcs
— YouTube Creators (@YTCreators) August 5, 2015
It doesn’t mean much for the average view, but the move is good for advertisers who need an accurate count to see how their content is performing. Creators will also no longer have to wait for hours to see how viral their video is. But judging by these tweets from YouTubers, even they were surprised with the news:
301+ views is gone on YouTube O_O what is this witchcraft
— Jordan Maron (@CaptainSparklez) August 5, 2015
Holy crap, guys. No more 301+ on Youtube??! That’ll help clean the comment sections up. “1,500 likes and only 301 views? Illuminati.”
— McJuggerNuggets (@McJuggerNuggets) August 5, 2015
The ‘301+ club’ is dead. Also, you’re getting older every day. Your childhood TV shows look old. Your children will laugh at how you lived.
— Emma Blackery (@emmablackery) August 5, 2015
Remember when every new YouTube redesign sent everyone into uproar? Now they’re on a roll: Transparent player, no more G+ and no more 301+
— Marques Brownlee (@MKBHD) August 5, 2015
More in Media
Creators say it’s difficult to make money from news — with platform rules and brand guidelines
With more people getting news from creators than traditional media, those creators are still trying to build sustainable businesses.
Why CNN International is building for agentic ad market that barely exists yet
CNN International is still chasing its first agent-sold dollar by Q1.
Media Briefing: The transatlantic push to rein in stealth bots is gathering pace
U.S. and U.K. publishers are pushing for laws to crack down on stealth AI crawlers as bot scraping surges and demands for transparency grow.