Short stories can indeed make you a published author. It shows that your work has been accepted and shared with an audience. However, the perception of being a 'published author' might differ depending on the literary community and the specific publishing context.
Yes, they can. Publishing a short story counts as being a published author.
It depends. Technically, if your short story is published in a recognized platform or publication, you can be considered a published author. But the impact and recognition might vary compared to having a full-length book published.