October 22, 2026, 1:53 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
The thumbs-down has been a staple on YouTube for years. However, there are increasing signs that Google might gradually phase out the negative rating. Initial tests are already underway on smartphones and desktops.
Google Hides the Thumbs-Down
Google is apparently experimenting with a fundamental change on YouTube. In current test versions, the dislike button no longer appears in its usual position for some users. YouTube sometimes moves the function to a submenu, and sometimes removes it entirely. These changes are evident in both the mobile app and the desktop version of the video platform.
This step isn’t entirely unexpected. Back in 2021, YouTube removed the public display of dislike counts. Since then, only account administrators can see how many negative ratings their videos have received. As a result, the function has already lost significant visibility for most users.
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While the thumbs-down continues to fade into the background, the like button remains a crucial part of the system. Positive ratings help boost videos on the platform. In contrast, Google seems to be placing less importance on the dislike.
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Officially, the company has not yet announced plans to completely eliminate the function. However, current tests suggest that negative ratings might play an even smaller role on the platform in the future.
A Direction Is Clear
The current tests seem like a continuation of a course YouTube embarked on some time ago. First, the public display of dislikes disappeared, and now the function is partially hidden or completely removed for some users. This step-by-step diminishes the significance of the thumbs-down.
Already in the summer, YouTube made changes to its short videos, known as Shorts. There, the classic thumbs-down was partially replaced by heart symbols. At the same time, the dislike function disappeared entirely from this area of the platform. The current attempts show that YouTube continues to work on its rating system and may be evaluating what role negative feedback should play in the future.