YouTube appears to be testing a change that makes disliking videos a little more work. Multiple users on X and Reddit have shared screenshots showing the familiar thumbs-down icon missing from its usual spot next to the like button. Some users even noticed the button disappearing entirely, while others saw it tucked into the three-dot menu beneath regular videos.
Update 10/22: YouTube has since clarified to Digital Trends that this isn’t a test affecting what viewers see on regular videos. The change only applies to the video page creators see on their own uploaded content. In other words, you’ll only notice the dislike button’s new location if you’re viewing your own video. Here’s the statement given by a YouTube spokesperson:
“We are not testing hiding the dislike button on YouTube for users. We’re introducing a new UI for creators on their own uploaded videos, where dislike is behind the three-dot menu, and as always, they can find their full dislike counts in Studio, alongside other analytics.”
Why is YouTube making the dislike button harder to find?
The change appears to affect regular, long-form videos on YouTube’s desktop website. Instead of sitting beside Like, the Dislike button is now tucked into the overflow menu, alongside the Report option.
However, when I tested YouTube on my end, the dislike button was still visible beside Like, but that may change soon. According to 9to5Google, this is an early interface test, not a widespread change, but it remains unclear how many users are seeing it.
The biggest concern is that moving Dislike out of plain sight could discourage viewers from using it. That would make negative feedback less convenient to leave, even though the button itself remains available.
Is YouTube preparing to remove dislikes altogether?
YouTube has a history of chipping away at this feature. Back in 2021, the platform hid public dislike counts, saying the move was meant to protect creators from harassment, though creators can still see their own numbers.
Earlier this year, YouTube removed the dislike button from Shorts altogether, directing viewers toward feedback options in the three-dot menu. Based on this pattern, the latest experiment feels like a preview of what’s coming next.
YouTube hasn’t commented on the test yet, and it’s still unclear how widely this will roll out. Still, given the history, there’s a possibility that long-form videos could be headed down the same path.
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