If you are accustomed to watching Shorts daily, you need to prepare yourself for some changes because YouTube has announced several updates that will make this feature more convenient and efficient. In addition, there is a possibility that at least one of these changes will cause some controversy.
YouTube Removes the Dislike Button
There is a feature that you can use to increase the speed of watching Shorts. Indeed, this feature has been long-awaited by viewers because you can now double the speed of watching Shorts. There are two ways to enable this feature. You can do it by pressing and holding the screen edge or pressing and swiping down.
The Dislike Button Is Officially Removed
Now we come to the real update: YouTube has officially removed the dislike button from Shorts. It's worth noting that it is not about hiding the count of dislikes like YouTube did in 2021.
In case you don't like the video, you have the following options now:
- Not Interested
- Don't recommend this channel
- Report
YouTube cites the explanation as being all about clarity. There’s too much room for interpretation in a “dislike” – from “audio was awful” to “I just don’t like this topic.” And it’s about making things clearer so that YouTube can tailor your recommendations better.
YouTube creators can continue to view their previous historical data on dislikes within YouTube Studio, but the number was frozen at the end of June 2026.
Thumbs Up is Now a Heart Icon
The traditional thumbs up icon has been replaced with the heart, which has long been a staple of TikTok and Instagram Reels.
A Calmer Viewing Experience
The company has added Clear Screen mode that hides all the icons, subtitles and text that appear on screen while watching a Short. It is a small update, but one that provides viewers with a cleaner experience and helps them focus on the video – which can be helpful when watching, say, a music clip or some scenic footage.
Why This Is Important
These developments mean that YouTube is moving towards copying features from its successful competitors – TikTok and Instagram Reels – which include reactions based on the viewer's emotions, distraction-free viewing and feed customization options. Another interesting move by the social media giant is how it has changed the way the recommendation algorithm works. Instead of the rough like/dislike binary, YouTube now uses a more precise set of reactions (for example, "Not Interested"), plus data on watch time and skipping rate.
When Will These Updates Go Live?
The company did not provide an exact timeline for launching the new features for all users. The updates will be rolled out gradually, which means that you may have already seen them – or perhaps have not yet.
💬 Comments
Be the first to comment.
Login to leave a comment.