YouTube may be quietly experimenting with hiding its dislike button from the main video interface, according to screenshots circulating on social media and reports from 9to5Google.
At least two users on X posted images showing the dislike button relocated from its usual spot beside the like button to a three-dots submenu beneath videos. A separate user on Reddit also reported that the dislike button was missing from their interface entirely, according to The Verge.
For most viewers, the dislike button currently sits directly next to the like button below a video. Moving it into a submenu would make the action meaningfully less accessible, requiring additional steps to register a dislike.
The apparent test follows a pattern of YouTube reducing the visibility of negative feedback options. The platform previously hid public dislike counts in late 2021, citing protection for creators from coordinated dislike campaigns, though the button itself remained visible to users.
YouTube's Response
According to The Verge, YouTube has stated that it is not testing the hiding of the dislike button, which conflicts with the user-submitted screenshots suggesting otherwise. The company did not provide further explanation for what those users may have been seeing.
User Reaction
Reports indicate that the apparent change has prompted a swift negative reaction from users, with some describing organized pushback against the potential removal. The dislike button, even without a public count, has remained a way for viewers to signal disapproval of content and to influence the platform's recommendation systems based on personal preference.
It remains unclear whether the interface change represents a formal test, a bug, or a limited experiment affecting only a small number of accounts.
