YouTube to hide dislike numbers on all videos to prevent attacks

YouTube has announced that it will hide dislike numbers on all videos in order to avoid “dislike attacks” against digital producers. The dislike button will no longer be displayed to visitors starting Thursday (November 11). However, you will still be able to dislike a video because the dislike button will not be removed, and you may use it to fine-tune the suggestions.

Creators, on the other hand, may see the dislike counts in YouTube Studio. If creators want to understand how their work is performing, they may still access their specific dislike numbers in YouTube Studio, along with other existing information.

“We are making the dislike counts private throughout YouTube, but the dislike button is not going away,” the online video sharing company claimed in a statement.

YouTube claims that hiding the dislike count is part of its effort to “create an inclusive and friendly atmosphere where creators have the opportunities to excel and feel safe to express themselves,” and that it is just one of many steps the platform is taking to safeguard creators, particularly smaller ones, from harassment.

While that’s a valid reason, one might argue that dislike counts on a video are valuable in determining whether or not the video is worth viewing. YouTube, on the other hand, claims that their research found no apparent change in viewing whether or not consumers could see the dislike counts.

YouTube has also started rolling out a redesigned “New to you” option on its platform, allowing viewers to explore content that isn’t part of the viewers’ standard recommendations.

Read Also: PUBG New State goes live: Here’s how to play next-gen battle royale game step-by-step

The new tab is available on the YouTube homepage across mobile, desktop, and TV devices. “We’re thrilled to offer additional information about ‘New to you,’ a tool that helps you discover new artists and new content outside of the usual suggested videos. In a statement, YouTube stated, “‘New to you’ is now available on the YouTube homepage across mobile, desktop, and TV platforms.”

The feature is designed to assist creators in reaching new audiences by allowing them to target individuals who would be most interested in their content but have yet to find it.

With 3 million likes and 19 million dislikes, YouTube’s Rewind 2018 is currently the most disliked video on the platform. But those statistics won’t be public for long, as YouTube has started to gradually hide dislike numbers throughout the platform.