Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Snapchat, TikTok, X, YouTube
General description
The number of times a video was viewed during its lifetime. The definition of video views differs per platform. Facebook and LinkedIn count a view after 3 seconds of watch time; Instagram counts views on Reels, feed video posts, and Stories with video; YouTube counts a view when playback starts from the first frame (Shorts since March 31, 2025; long-form and live from August 24, 2026); X counts a view when the video is 50% visible on the feed for 2 seconds or more; Snapchat counts a view when the video snap is opened.
This metric compares post performance for Organic vs. Paid data. Paid data shows promoted/boosted posts related to a Facebook page. Some posts are counted in both categories if they appear as both Organic and Paid to a user. Metrics may vary due to Facebook API limitations.
Platform
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Snapchat, TikTok, X, YouTube
Platform reach
Cross-platform
Alternative/specific description
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Facebook
Total number of times your page’s videos were viewed for 3 seconds or more over a selected date range (the number includes views of the videos in the original post and in crossposts).
Plays of reels are counted as video views, too. Plays are defined as video sessions with 1 ms or more of playback, however, reels replays are not counted. -
X
Total video views on your video tweets from a selected date range. X counts a view when the video is at least 50% visible for 2 consecutive seconds.
Emplifi stores Video views only on posts that have their own attached video. Replies, quotes, retweets, and other non-video posts do not receive this metric.
Learn more: Video views on X (formerly Twitter) -
YouTube
The number of video views for YouTube videos published during the selected date range. YouTube counts a video view when playback starts, from the first frame. Shorts have used this rule since March 31, 2025; long-form video and live streams adopt it from August 24, 2026.
Learn more: YouTube metric update (August 2026) -
Snapchat
The number of times a video snap was viewed during its lifetime. A view is counted immediately upon opening the video snap and for each time it is rewatched. The set of content can be defined by profiles, content labels or profile labels, and filtered using various parameters. -
Instagram
Number of times video content was seen during its lifetime. Includes Reels, feed video posts, and Stories with video. Use Content type to limit to posts, stories, or both.
For Instagram-only accuracy against native Insights, prefer Instagram Media views. For post-deprecation context, see the Video Views (Post Level) section in Instagram Insights Metrics Deprecation (April 21, 2025) and Views Integration - Updated.-
Scope - what is included
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Instagram posts with video media type
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Reels
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Stories with video media type
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Limitations
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Instagram Carousels
Video views are not supported for carousel posts, even if a video is attached. This is due to platform limitations. -
As of January 8, 2025, the original metric for video views on carousels was deprecated.
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To ensure data consistency, video views are marked as N/A for all carousels created after January 8, 2025.
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Organic or Boosted
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Organic + Boosted
LinkedIn, X, TikTok, YouTube (if video contains ads) -
Organic
Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, YouTube (if video does not contain ads)
Private or Public
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Public
YouTube -
Private
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Snapchat, TikTok, X
Level
Post
ADS
No
Dimension
date.day
TikTok
The total number of views the video has received.
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Counts when playback duration is >0.
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Playback is the first playback in an impression session.
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If the user swipes away from the ad then swipes back, it would be counted as 2 impressions. Therefore a new video view will be counted again with the new impression session.
X
Emplifi stores Video views only on X posts that have their own attached video. Replies, quotes, retweets, link posts, and other non-video posts do not receive this metric. X counts a view when the video is at least 50% visible for 2 consecutive seconds.
Learn more: Video views on X (formerly Twitter)
Video views with play-pause cycles for at least 3 seconds. Auto-looping videos are counted as one when loaded and subsequent auto-loops do not increase the count.
Internal metric name (Dashboard)
insights_video_views +v2