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YouTube Makes Video Dislike Counts Private

Platform aims to reduce dislike attacks and their impact on creators

By Cesar Cadenas Cesar Cadenas Writer California State University - Long Beach Cesar Cadenas has been writing about the tech industry since 2016 on a variety of topics like cryptocurrency, video games, the latest gadgets, and much more. lifewire's editorial guidelines Published on November 10, 2021 02:07PM EST Fact checked by Jerri Ledford Fact checked by Jerri Ledford Western Kentucky University Gulf Coast Community College Jerri L. Ledford has been writing, editing, and fact-checking tech stories since 1994. Her work has appeared in Computerworld, PC Magazine, Information Today, and many others. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Streaming Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming YouTube made video dislike counts private across the platform with a new update beginning its gradual rollout Wednesday. According to YouTube, this is part of an effort to create a respectful environment and curb harassment. Content creators will still be able to find the dislike count in YouTube Studio’s analytics and other metrics to understand how their video is doing. RUBEN BONILLA GONZALO/Getty Images In March of this year, YouTube announced that it would experiment with the dislike button to see if removing it would better protect creators from harassment. The platform claims its research teams discovered groups of people would misuse the dislike button to target content creators as part of a coordinated assault. During the experiment, YouTube discovered that by making the dislikes private, the number of coordinated attacks went down a significant amount. The dislike button will still be there for people to use, and the platform's algorithm will use this feedback to fine-tune a person's recommended videos; it's just the display number disappearing. hobo_018/Getty Images YouTube also took the time to address common questions it encountered during the experimental phase. When asked how people will know the video is worthwhile, YouTube states the dislike count affects viewership very little and people will watch anyway. The platform also addressed if the change was spurred on by personal feelings over the amount of dislikes 2018's YouTube Rewind got. YouTube responded by saying the change is about protecting all creators by ensuring their safety on the platform. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire TikTok vs. YouTube: Which One Is Right for You? How Do YouTubers Get Paid? What Does 'Ratio' Mean on TikTok? Vimeo vs. YouTube How to Find out Who Is Watching Your YouTube Videos Facebook Watch: What It Is and How to Use It How to Dislike a TikTok What Is YouTube: A Beginner's Guide How to Message Someone on YouTube The Meaning of Something Going Viral Online What Is Social Media? Minecraft's Modding Decline How Do YouTube Channel Memberships Work? Who Is Notch? Minecraft Creator Markus Alexej Persson Free Video-Sharing Websites That Pay Social Networks That Pay Users for Content Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies