YouTube Shorts have transformed how creators reach massive audiences in seconds. These vertical, bite-sized videos, typically under 60 seconds, can rack up millions of views within hours — and sometimes, even more likes. In a platform where engagement often determines visibility, the number of likes on a Short is a strong indicator of its viral success.

As of September 2025, one Short holds the crown for being the most liked ever on YouTube. This post breaks down what the video is, who created it, and why it resonated so widely with viewers across the globe.

What Is the Most Liked YouTube Short as of September 2025?

As of September 2025, the most liked YouTube Short is “BTS Jungkook Face Zoom 😳” uploaded by the official BTS channel, BANGTANTV.

• Title: BTS Jungkook Face Zoom 😳
• Creator: BANGTANTV
• Upload Date: July 21, 2022
• Likes: 26.4 million+
• Duration: 19 seconds
• Link: Watch on YouTube

Why It Went Viral

The Short features BTS member Jungkook with a playful zoom-in on his face, enhanced with humorous timing and a popular reaction filter. Given the global reach of BTS and their highly engaged fanbase, known as ARMY, the video quickly spread beyond YouTube into platforms like TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram. Its simplicity, relatability, and celebrity factor made it an instant hit, pulling in tens of millions of likes in a short span of time.

Who Is the Creator Behind the Most Liked YouTube Short?

The channel behind the most liked YouTube Short is BANGTANTV, the official YouTube channel of the South Korean boy band BTS. Managed by HYBE Corporation (formerly Big Hit Entertainment), BANGTANTV has been active since 2012 and serves as the central hub for all official BTS content, including music videos, behind-the-scenes footage, and Shorts.

About BANGTANTV

• Channel Name: BANGTANTV
• Subscribers: Over 80 million (as of September 2025)
• Content Type: Music videos, performance clips, vlogs, fan messages, Shorts
• Notable Achievements:
  • Multiple Guinness World Records (e.g., most-viewed music video in 24 hours)
  • Billboard chart-topping singles
  • First K-pop group to perform at the GRAMMYs

Creator Influence

BTS’s massive influence on global pop culture cannot be overstated. Each member has a personal fan following, and even minor content can generate explosive engagement. The Jungkook face zoom Short capitalized on this popularity, showing how even a casual, seconds-long clip can become a record-breaking moment when backed by a global fandom.

How the Short Gained Massive Engagement

1. Massive Global Fandom

BTS’s fanbase, ARMY, is one of the most active and organized communities online. Once the Short was posted, fans globally shared it across platforms, boosting its visibility and likes within hours.

2. Short-Form Format Optimized for the Algorithm

The video was only 19 seconds long, making it ideal for replays — an important factor in YouTube’s recommendation algorithm. High replays and completion rates pushed the Short onto more homepages and Shorts feeds.

3. Use of a Relatable, Trend-Driven Concept

The exaggerated zoom and reaction filter aligned perfectly with trends on TikTok and Shorts during that period. It was funny, simple, and instantly shareable.

4. Cross-Platform Sharing

The Short wasn’t just popular on YouTube. Clips and screenshots spread to TikTok, Instagram Reels, X (formerly Twitter), and fan forums. This outside traffic funneled new viewers back to YouTube, increasing engagement further.

5. Timely Upload & BTS Hiatus Buzz

The video was posted not long after BTS announced a break from group activities. Fans were especially eager for content, giving even lighthearted posts a boost in attention.

How YouTube Shorts Measure Engagement vs Traditional Videos

1. Likes and Watch Time Are Key Signals

In Shorts, likes and watch time (especially replays) carry more weight than comments or long viewing duration. A high like-to-view ratio tells the algorithm the content is enjoyable and worth pushing to more users.

2. Shorter Duration Means Higher Completion Rates

Since most Shorts are under 60 seconds, viewers are more likely to watch the entire clip — or even rewatch it. YouTube sees this as a strong indicator of quality, leading to more exposure in the Shorts feed.

3. Shares and Saves Impact Visibility

Although likes are the most visible metric, sharing and adding to playlists also contribute to discoverability. Viral Shorts like the BTS one often get embedded or shared outside the platform, further increasing their reach.

4. Monetization Works Differently

Unlike traditional videos that rely on pre-roll ads, monetization for Shorts comes from the YouTube Shorts Fund or ad revenue sharing introduced in 2023. Viral Shorts generate revenue based on total views and ad impressions served between Shorts in the feed.

5. Impact on Channel Growth

A single viral Short can lead to massive subscriber growth. For creators, this means Shorts aren’t just about views — they’re a tool to build an audience, increase watch time across the channel, and boost overall visibility.

Conclusion

The most liked YouTube Short of all time as of September 2025 is a simple, 19-second zoom-in video of BTS’s Jungkook — proof that in the world of Shorts, simplicity, timing, and fan engagement are everything. With over 26 million likes, this clip exemplifies how powerful short-form content can be when backed by a loyal global audience and aligned with platform trends.

As YouTube Shorts continue to evolve, creators aiming for virality can learn a lot from this success: keep content snappy, relatable, and optimized for algorithmic discovery. In the race for engagement, even a few seconds of screen time can make history.