‘Dislike’ Count on YouTube Videos Goes Private To Reduce “Dislike Attacking Behaviour” Among Users

By Jasmine Qistina  •  12 Nov 2021 in News

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In a bid to better protect creators from harassment, YouTube has decided to hide the dislike count.

YouTube has announced that they will be making the dislike count on videos, private to the public starting on 10th November. The video-content giant is gradually rolling out this new change. 

The like and dislike button helps YouTube’s algorithm regulate and recommend content for viewers. Although viewers can still access the dislike button, the exact count of dislikes will be hidden from the public in a move to reduce “dislike attacking behaviour”.

An experiment conducted by YouTube this year found out that viewers with the dislike count hidden to them were less likely to target a video’s dislike button to drive up the count. Research also shows that smaller creators face the brunt of this dislike attacking behaviour.

YouTube hopes to “create an inclusive and respectful environment where creators have the opportunity to succeed and feel safe to express themselves” with this new update. 

Creators can still view and access their exact dislike counts through their respectful YouTube accounts. 

Although netizens have voiced the benefits of the dislike button, like ensuring the quality of content in the video, YouTube insists that their data shows this move will better protect creators from harassment.  

Currently YouTube’s very own YouTube Rewind 2018 video is recorded to be the most disliked video on the site with over 19 million dislikes. Hmmm… wonder why?

Check that video out below…