YouTube Hides Dislike Counts to Combat Creator Harassment

YouTube has officially begun hiding the public dislike count on its videos, a move aimed at curbing harassment and protecting content creators from targeted campaigns. The change, which started rolling out on October 20, 2026, will see the dislike button remain visible, but the total number of dislikes will no longer be displayed to viewers. This update applies to all videos across the platform, with the exception of those specifically uploaded to YouTube Shorts, the company’s short-form video offering.

The decision follows extensive testing and feedback from the YouTube community, particularly from creators who have voiced concerns about persistent dislike bombing and online harassment. In a statement, a YouTube spokesperson explained, “We’ve heard your concerns about the impact of harassment on creators, and we’re committed to fostering a positive and respectful environment on our platform. By removing public dislike counts, we aim to reduce the potential for targeted harassment campaigns and protect creators’ well-being.”

Background and Creator Impact

The dislike button, alongside the like button, has long been a primary tool for viewers to express their sentiment towards a video. However, in recent years, it has also become a weapon for coordinated attacks against creators, particularly those from marginalized communities or those who produce content that is perceived as controversial by certain groups. These campaigns can significantly impact a creator’s viewership, revenue, and mental health. Several high-profile creators have spoken out about the negative effects of dislike mobs, describing the experience as demoralizing and detrimental to their careers.

YouTube’s move is seen by many as a necessary step to create a safer online space. “This is a welcome change for creators like myself,” commented Sarah Chen, a lifestyle vlogger with over 500,000 subscribers. “We pour a lot of effort into our videos, and seeing them flooded with dislikes, regardless of the content quality, can be incredibly disheartening. While constructive criticism is always valuable, organized harassment is not.”

The platform stated that creators will still be able to see the exact number of dislikes on their own videos through YouTube Studio, their creator analytics dashboard. This ensures that creators can still monitor audience feedback for content improvement while shielding them from public scrutiny. Viewers will still be able to use the dislike button to help YouTube’s recommendation algorithm, but they will not see the total number of dislikes.

The company also emphasized that this change is not intended to hide negative feedback but rather to pivot the focus from a public numerical count to more constructive forms of feedback. YouTube encourages viewers to leave comments if they have specific criticisms about a video. The platform’s existing moderation tools will continue to address hate speech and abuse, but the dislike button itself is now considered a less effective tool for public discourse and more a target for malicious actors.

This decision aligns with broader trends across social media platforms grappling with issues of online harassment and the spread of misinformation. While some users have expressed skepticism, arguing that this move limits transparency, the consensus among many creators is that it prioritizes their safety and well-being. YouTube plans to monitor the impact of this change closely and may introduce further adjustments based on creator and viewer feedback in the coming months.