YouTube has clarified that it is not testing a feature to hide the dislike button for all users.
What Happened
On Tuesday, The Verge reported that users had shared screenshots showing the dislike button moved into the three-dot menu on YouTube videos.
That report sparked speculation about a broader test to hide the dislike button for regular users.
YouTube’s Official Response
YouTube issued a statement on Wednesday to clarify the situation.
“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.”
The statement was issued by Kimberly Taylor, a YouTube spokesperson.
Who Is Affected
The change applies only to content creators who upload videos to YouTube.
Regular users will not see the dislike button hidden or moved.
Creators can still access full dislike counts and related metrics through YouTube Studio.
Background: Past Changes to the Dislike Button
YouTube first hid public dislike counts on videos in 2021.
That move was intended to reduce harassment and negative interactions on content.
Earlier this year, the platform removed the dislike button from Shorts videos.
Why This Matters
Users have long debated the role of the dislike button on YouTube.
Some see it as a tool for feedback; others view it as a source of toxicity.
YouTube’s clarification helps set expectations about what changes are being tested and for whom.
Limitations and Open Questions
The rollout of the new UI for creators is expected to happen over “the coming weeks”.
There is no public timeline for when the change will be fully complete.
It remains unclear how many creators will be affected or whether the feature will expand beyond videos they upload.
What to Watch Next
Users should keep an eye on updates from YouTube about the rollout of this feature.
Any future changes to the dislike button will likely be limited to creator tools, not public-facing UI.
For more on the history of YouTube’s dislike button, see the original report from The Verge.
Previous report on dislike button changes
Another user sharing a screenshot
Sources & further reading
Featured image: original publisher image. Via original publisher. Image source
