On November 10, 2021, YouTube released a video on their official channel announcing their new changes to the dislike counter. Although the dislike button will continue to exist, users will no longer be able to see the number of dislikes that a video has. YouTube had previously teased this change in March of 2021, but their November video was their “official” announcement. The platform claims that the change is being implemented to protect its creators from “dislike bombing” and “unnecessary hate.” However, many of its users disagree with this decision.

In their official announcement video, YouTube justifies their radical decision by claiming that the change will protect their small creators who receive coordinated attacks on their content. The change would admittedly assist small YouTubers to gain viewers, and many small YouTubers share that the change is good for their mental health and stability. They feel safer now that they can post their content and videos without being attacked by internet users who dislike their work for amusement. However, some users have argued that disabling the dislike counter now encourages even more toxicity and hatred, as users are attracted to the comments section, where their attacks can be more personal and vicious. 

YouTube comments are infamous for being harsh because users don’t need to worry about conflict when they are separated by screens. This is the nature of the internet, and it, unfortunately, has fostered an unhealthy culture where people can be bullied and attacked by others without ever knowing who they are. While the dislike-to-like ratio hurt to see, it had not previously attacked the creators’ character or content. Removing the dislike counter has provided a lure for people to hate and jeer about someone’s work in the comments section. Critics of YouTube’s changes argue that this is a terrible decision, and will only lead to further attacks on the platform’s smaller creators.

Critics also argue that removing the visible dislike counter is terrible for people because it allows corporations to post targeted advertisements without being held accountable by the people now. For instance, companies whose videos are massively disliked for doing something deplorable are now free from any criticism and protest. This allows them to continue committing deplorable actions, meaning that the platform’s users will continue to be affected. 

by Nathan Park