After removing dislike counts years ago, new UI tests at YouTube are making it harder to even using the dislike button at all.
In 2021, YouTube removed the dislike count as a way to “de-weaponize” the button – effort that had been ongoing for years – with YouTube even acknowledging that it was a decision that users might disagree with. Now, following similar changes to Shorts, YouTube appears to be testing further hiding the dislike button.
A report on Twitter/X highlighted by Neowin showcases YouTube hiding the dislike button under an overflow menu, hiding it from view despite the like button remaining front and center. This appears to be on the desktop website, though we couldn’t replicate the same behavior on our end.
It’s not the only case of this happening, though.
Over the past couple of weeks, reports on Reddit have seen the dislike button vanish, with another web user seeing a slightly different UI to the one above, but with the same result of offloading the button to an overflow menu alongside the “Report” button.
YouTube runs tests like this frequently, but given the same change was made to the dislike button on Shorts several months ago, it’s all but certain that the same will happen to standard videos.
What do you think of the change?
More on YouTube:
- YouTube reportedly ‘looking’ into adding audiobooks to Premium
- YouTube begins rolling out GIF support for comments very slowly; it’s for a reason
- YouTube bringing automatic background play to Android Automotive cars
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