YouTube Hides Dislike Count to Promote Respectful Interactions
YouTube has recently announced an update that hides the total number of dislikes from viewers in order to encourage respectful interactions between viewers and creators. This change has already been implemented.
In a statement, YouTube mentioned that it had previously experimented with the dislike button and allowed content creators to remove the dislike ratio individually.
These experiments revealed a reduction in dislike attacking behavior, particularly in smaller channels that often become targets of mass dislike brigades. This change reinforces YouTube’s core values and fosters respectful interactions between viewers and creators.
Although viewers cannot see the like-to-dislike ratio anymore, the dislike button will still be available on every video. Only creators will have access to the exact number of dislikes for their videos, which can be found in YouTube Studio along with other metrics.
Users can still give dislikes to videos and this will continue to contribute to their personalized algorithm and recommendations.
YouTube acknowledges that many people might disagree with their decision, as the dislike ratio is often used to pass judgment on videos. However, YouTube justifies this change by aiming to create a more inclusive and respectful environment where creators can succeed and express themselves safely.