The decision by YouTube to conceal the public dislike count on videos represents a significant alteration to the platform’s user interface and feedback mechanism. This change means viewers can no longer see the number of dislikes a video has received, though the creator retains access to this metric within YouTube Studio.
This alteration stemmed from concerns regarding coordinated attacks and harassment campaigns targeting specific creators, particularly smaller channels or those producing content perceived as controversial. Removing the publicly visible dislike count aimed to reduce the potential for “dislike mobs” and foster a more inclusive and less hostile environment, allowing creators to experiment and express themselves without fear of disproportionate negative feedback influencing viewership.