I would wager some VP at YouTube in charge of shorts has their performance evaluations tied to how many hours of shorts are watched. So that's one incentive. Another is customer retention. Make current paying users addicted to shorts, and maybe they'll be more likely to keep paying.

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nearbuy 2 hours ago | parent [-]

I think you're basically right, but the comment I replied to was saying they'll somehow get more of that specific user's money. While the shorts may improve retention in aggregate, this particular paying customer doesn't want them.

	▲	gryfft 8 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		What you want and what behaviors you may be induced toward via a nonstop campaign of unwanted UX changes are two different things. When a pusher gives you some free drugs, they are not taking into account whether you want to be addicted to drugs. Not part of the business model.