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YouTube Tests Moving Dislike Button to Submenu

YouTube is reportedly testing a change that would move the dislike button from its current position next to the like button into the three‑dots submenu. The shift was first noticed by users on X and Reddit who shared screenshots showing the button either hidden or relocated. If the redesign is rolled out widely, it would make the dislike feature less visible and potentially reduce how often it is used. Google has not yet commented on the test, and it is unclear how many accounts or regions are affected. The move follows earlier changes, such as the 2021 decision to hide public dislike counts to protect creators and the removal of the button from Shorts. Creators can still see dislike counts on their own videos, but the public‑facing button would be harder to access. The company’s next steps remain uncertain, but the change could signal a broader effort to curb harassment and improve user experience. The test reflects YouTube’s ongoing experimentation with interface tweaks aimed at balancing community feedback and platform moderation.

· The Verge

The essential points

  1. 01YouTube may relocate the dislike button to the three‑dots submenu, making it less prominent.
  2. 02Users on X and Reddit posted screenshots showing the button hidden or moved.
  3. 03The change follows 2021’s public dislike‑count removal and the recent Shorts button removal.
  4. 04Google has not confirmed the test’s scope or timeline, leaving uncertainty about rollout.
The full brief

YouTube is reportedly testing a change that would move the dislike button from its current position next to the like button into the three‑dots submenu. The shift was first noticed by users on X and Reddit who shared screenshots showing the button either hidden or relocated. If the redesign is rolled out widely, it would make the dislike feature less visible and potentially reduce how often it is used.

Google has not yet commented on the test, and it is unclear how many accounts or regions are affected. The move follows earlier changes, such as the 2021 decision to hide public dislike counts to protect creators and the removal of the button from Shorts. Creators can still see dislike counts on their own videos, but the public‑facing button would be harder to access.

The company’s next steps remain uncertain, but the change could signal a broader effort to curb harassment and improve user experience. The test reflects YouTube’s ongoing experimentation with interface tweaks aimed at balancing community feedback and platform moderation.