# YouTube Shorts vs. Long-Form Watch Events per User in Germany — January 2025 to May 2026

> Shorts watch events per German user surged 5.2× from 48 to 250 per month — while long-form viewing also grew, from 29 to 45 events

**Period:** Jan 2025 – May 2026  
**Market:** DE  
**Data status:** final  
**Data as of:** 2026-06-29T13:32:36.475936+00:00  
**Sample size:** n = 28,884  
**Source:** [https://www.datapods.app/en/insights/media/video-streaming/youtube-shorts-events-per-user-germany-2025-2026](https://www.datapods.app/en/insights/media/video-streaming/youtube-shorts-events-per-user-germany-2025-2026)

## Segments

- **Years:** 2025–2026
- **Platform:** browsing

## Summary

YouTube Shorts watch events per active German user exploded 5.2× — from 48 to 250 per month — between January 2025 and May 2026. Crucially, long-form watch events per user grew in parallel, from 29 to 45, rather than declining. Short-form video growth in Germany is additive, not cannibalistic.

## Why Shorts feeds long-form, not against it

Industry data supports this pattern: YouTube's own research shows that 74% of Shorts views come from non-subscribers, making the format a discovery engine that funnels new audiences toward long-form content. Channels combining Shorts and long-form content were reported to grow 41% faster than those relying on a single format. For German advertisers, the implication is significant: Shorts and long-form budgets should be treated as complementary rather than competing line items. The 5.2× Shorts acceleration reflects both greater platform promotion of the feed and increasing scroll habituation among users — a behavioral shift that appears durable given that long-form engagement held firm throughout. See the overall [YouTube Shorts watch-time share trend](slug:youtube-shorts-watch-time-share-germany-2025-2026) for the share-level view of the same period.

## Chart

Dual-line chart showing monthly YouTube watch events per active German user for Shorts and long-form content from January 2025 to May 2026. Shorts events rise steeply from 48 to 250 per user per month; long-form events grow moderately from 29 to 45 per user per month.

## Methodology

Monthly watch events per active user are calculated by dividing total watch events for each format (Shorts ≤60 seconds; long-form >60 seconds) by the number of distinct active users in that month. Data covers German users aged 16 and older with known birth year, restricted to YouTube watch events where video duration was available via the API. The observation window runs from January 2025 to May 2026.

## Citation

Datapods (2026-06-29). *YouTube Shorts vs. Long-Form Watch Events per User in Germany — January 2025 to May 2026*. Datapods Insights. https://www.datapods.app/en/insights/media/video-streaming/youtube-shorts-events-per-user-germany-2025-2026

## About Datapods

Datapods is a behavioral consumer-data platform. The Insights library publishes free, citable statistics derived from a panel of 25,000+ opted-in participants in Germany: observed real behavior (transactions, browsing, media), not surveys. All data is processed within the EU and is GDPR-compliant.

For brand-specific cuts, competitor benchmarks, and granular audience filters across 12,000+ tracked brands, see [https://www.datapods.app/en](https://www.datapods.app/en).