How Does Youtube Watch Time Work?

[gt710]

im confused how watch time works on youtube

 

i know any watch time you get for uploaded videos not shorts counts towards it

but what about live streams googling some say watch time only counts if anybody watches the stream once its over 
others say it counts when stream is live and when its over

also if i stream via youtube shorts feed via my phone do those streams count for watch time?

[Alex Atkin UK]

42 minutes ago, gt710 said:

im confused how watch time works on youtube

 

i know any watch time you get for uploaded videos not shorts counts towards it

but what about live streams googling some say watch time only counts if anybody watches the stream once its over 
others say it counts when stream is live and when its over

also if i stream via youtube shorts feed via my phone do those streams count for watch time?

Youtube is the prime example of "trust me bro", as I doubt anyone knows exactly how anything works.