format Factor

YouTube Short

Whether the video is a YouTube Short — a vertical video under 60 seconds. Shorts are distributed through a completely separate algorithmic feed from regular videos.

YouTube Shorts reach a different audience through a different algorithm. They can dramatically increase impressions and subscriber growth, but Shorts viewers are less likely to convert into regular video watchers. Shorts also have different engagement patterns — views are high but watch time per view is inherently capped.

Average Video
+706%
p < 0.001 · statistically significant
Top 10% Video
+521%
statistically significant · p < 0.001

Average Video shows the effect on a typical video. Top 10% Video shows the effect on videos in the top 10% of views — estimated via quantile regression, so you can see whether a factor helps most videos a little, or pushes the top performers much higher.

When present

The video is a YouTube Short — vertical format, under 60 seconds, distributed through the Shorts feed.

Videos with this factor

When absent

The video is a standard-length YouTube video in landscape or square format.

Videos without this factor

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