YouTube Tests Heart Button and Hidden Dislike for Shorts
YouTube is experimenting with its feedback system on Shorts, replacing the "like" button with a heart icon and, for some users, removing the "dislike" button entirely or moving it to a three-dot menu. This shift aligns with other short-form video platforms but has drawn mixed reactions from users accustomed to the traditional interface.
Key points
- YouTube is testing a new feedback mechanism on its Shorts platform.
- The "like" button has been replaced with a heart icon across Android, iOS, and web apps.
- For some users, the "dislike" button has vanished from the primary interface.
- Reports suggest the "dislike" button may have been relocated to a three-dot menu.
- The changes are currently in a limited test phase and have prompted user discussion online.
Google's YouTube is trialing a significant alteration to its user feedback tools within its Shorts vertical video feed. Users are reporting the "like" button has been swapped for a heart icon, mirroring interfaces on competing platforms like TikTok and Instagram. This change has appeared across multiple operating systems and web versions.
More controversially, a subset of users are finding the "dislike" button completely removed from view. While some speculate this indicates a full removal, others note its apparent relocation to a secondary menu, accessed via a three-dot icon. YouTube previously removed public dislike counts in 2021, citing a desire to reduce targeted harassment. These latest tests, occurring widely now after initial sightings weeks ago, are generating discussion among the platform's user base.
Sources
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