Plyr: Does plyr changes YouTube view counts?

[ghost]

So if you embed YouTube videos using YouTube's embed codes, the play counts are counted towards the view count and are displayed in total number of views. Now using Plyr, I am wondering if that is changed.

@sampotts do you know if plyr is causing an issue with the view counts? because I embedded a video using plyr and I only have certain number of views which I think should be higher.

Thanks

[sampotts]

I get asked this a lot. Embed views count as views as far as I’m aware but feel free to test it out and report back. Our implementation of YouTube just uses the same code as their embedded player so I can’t see why it wouldn’t unless they ignore embedded players.

Remember there’s likely a delay.

[sparkktv]

In my tests, no Youtube videos using Plyr or any embedded player have counted towards my views on Youtube. Youtube claims embedded videos will counts towards views but I have never seen it or had success.

[sampotts]

I would say contact them and raise it as a bug but you'll be lucky if they actually fix it... 😂

[sampotts]

https://www.quora.com/Does-YouTube-count-views-if-the-video-is-posted-to-Facebook-and-viewed-from-there
https://www.quora.com/If-I-post-a-video-from-YouTube-on-my-website-will-the-views-count-on-YouTube
https://boostlikes.com/blog/2014/08/youtube-video-views-embeds-count

[michelstomp]

I'd like to add to this issue: It seems embedded videos played in third party player widgets are not counted, as the source below mentions:

"Often video views from these customized widgets are not incremented in the view counter of the video. This is so because YouTube has a hard time tracking customized code, and it cannot tell whether a video is being hidden in some way."

https://vidooly.com/blog/debunking-what-doesnt-count-as-a-youtube-view/

I have tested our implementation and it is compliant with the above statement; views are not counted. Do you see any opportunities in improving this in Plyr? Perhaps via YT API?

[sampotts]

Plyr isn't customizing their code at all though. It's just using their embed API...
https://developers.google.com/youtube/iframe_api_reference

[michelstomp]

Yes, I understand. But would the view perhaps only be counted when a user actually engages the video through an user initiated (click/tap) event and not counted when (play) event is fired by JS?

[gehaktmolen]

Michel ouwe baas! :D <- Arthur.

[sampotts]

I've no idea. I don't think anyone has solid evidence to point either way but it certainly seems strange to me that they wouldn't count views of embedded videos given how widely they are used. We're already using their API so I'm not sure there's anything else that can be done if in fact they aren't being counted. They aren't the most responsive either when it comes to fixing issues...

[gehaktmolen]

From what i remember only native clicks on Youtube play buttons would register a "view". Probably due to revenue allocation based on view count and the possibilities to just abuse the view count with your own solutions.

I miss the sudden guitar jams and fuss-ball sessions! :D Anyway gl.

[michelstomp]

DUUUUDE! Kom een x langs man!!

[sampotts]

OK I guess that's a no then. I'll add a note in the docs. Do you have any source for that @gehaktmolen

[gehaktmolen]

Based on this document we could already assume that they would not allow it due to possible abuse:
https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2991785?hl=en

Then there is this old post:
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/13456288/does-youtube-api-play-function-trigger-a-view-count/13459944#13459944

Also in the API documentation:
http://prntscr.com/me677f - "Note: A playback only counts toward a video's official view count if it is initiated via a native play button in the player." - https://developers.google.com/youtube/iframe_api_reference

It has been a while since that post of course, but i can't find anything about Youtube enabling it. I even assume they have some captcha solution on their own play button :D If not, then i am going to quit my job and setup a bot to spam click Pewdiepie his youtube videos and ask money for it.