Shorts dislike button change explained

If you publish on YouTube, especially Shorts, this tweak could quietly change how viewers judge your videos - and how the algorithm interprets that judgement. Translation: it might affect your reach. Let's unpack what's happening, why it matters, and how to use it to your advantage.

What's changing right now

YouTube is running an experiment on Shorts that moves the thumbs-down out of the main sidebar and into a pop-up menu.
Inside that menu, "Dislike" is merged with - or replaced by - "Not Interested."
Different users see different labels ("Dislike" vs. "Not Interested") so YouTube can learn whether people treat those options the same way.

Short version: YouTube is testing whether a softer label and a less prominent placement reduce the knee-jerk negativity that sometimes floods creators - without removing user feedback entirely.

Why this experiment exists in the first place

Dislikes were never just a vibe check - they became a weapon. Organized dislike-bombing campaigns have disproportionately hit women and other marginalized creators. In 2021, YouTube hid public dislike counts to tamp down harassment, keeping the metric private in YouTube Studio for creators. That change sparked backlash over transparency, and third-party extensions emerged to surface community-estimated dislike counts anyway.

Shorts launched right around that time, so YouTube has had less data on how a super-fast, swipe-based format uses (and abuses) a "thumbs down." The company has already tested removing the dislike from the main Shorts UI; now it's testing a merge-and-relabel approach.

"Dislike" vs. "Not Interested": same button, different consequences?

We don't have official weighting for YouTube's ranking signals (and anyone who promises you that is selling snake oil). But here's what's generally understood:

Dislike has historically been one signal among many to gauge viewer satisfaction, especially when paired with other behavior like watch time and repeat views.
Not Interested is a personalization control. It tells YouTube, "Show me less of this," often affecting what that sees next more than it publicly penalizes your video.

If YouTube unifies these into a single menu action, the effect could be a nudge: the platform may treat negative feedback more as a user preference than a public dunk. That could reduce mass-brigading while still letting viewers tune their feed.

How other platforms handle the "nope" button

TikTok: Long-press to mark "Not interested," and you'll see less of that content or topic - no public counter, minimal stigma.
Instagram Reels: Similar "Not Interested" controls that quietly personalize your feed.
X (Twitter): Private downvotes on replies intended to surface more helpful responses, not to publicly shame.

The trend is clear: platforms are making negative feedback more private and more about your experience, not crowd punishment.

What this could mean for creators

Less drive-by negativity: Moving the button off the main UI and renaming it may reduce impulsive downvotes.
Clearer viewer intent: "Not Interested" maps more cleanly to personalization, which can make recommendations smarter without turning your video into a community punching bag.
Studio metrics may shift: Creators currently see likes vs. dislikes privately. If YouTube keeps this experiment, expect terminology changes in Studio and potentially new feedback breakdowns. Keep an eye on any card or report related to viewer satisfaction.

What you should do now (and keep doing)

Optimize for satisfaction signals, not just clicks: Outperform with strong hooks (first 2 seconds), tight pacing, and loop-friendly endings for Shorts. Watch retention, not just views.
Use content hygiene to avoid "Not Interested" taps: Precision in topic, title, and thumbnail helps the right viewer find you. Misaligned packaging equals fast swipes.
Protect your channel from brigading:
- Turn on "Hold potentially inappropriate comments for review."
- Use blocked words, increase strictness, and lean on comment moderation tools.
- Block repeat offenders and report brigading patterns if needed.
Watch for audience signals beyond likes: Rewatch rate, shares, new vs. returning viewers, and "Views from Shorts feed" are truer indicators of content-market fit than a thumbs-down ever was.
Experiment with endings: A satisfying payoff or loop moment reduces frustration - that's often what triggers a "not interested" reflex.

Context you should know

Public dislike counts were hidden platform-wide in 2021 to reduce harassment, especially against smaller creators. The count remains visible to you in YouTube Studio.
Shorts began global expansion in 2021, so YouTube is still refining the UI and signals that best fit a fast-swipe feed.
Third-party tools that "restore" public dislike counts use estimates and scraped data; they are not official and may be inaccurate.

Will this impact monetization?

Not directly. Ad revenue and Shorts revenue sharing hinge more on watch time, viewer satisfaction, and inventory than on a single negative action. Indirectly, if the change improves personalization and reduces brigading, it could stabilize performance for creators who've been unfairly targeted.

How to know if you're in the test

On Shorts, check the right sidebar. If the thumbs-down is missing, tap the overflow menu. If you see "Dislike" or "Not Interested" there, you're likely in the experiment.
Expect A/B differences across accounts and devices. Tests can be turned on or off without notice.

Bottom line

Less public shaming, more personal control is the direction of travel across social platforms. If YouTube's test becomes permanent, creators could see fewer performative downvotes and more meaningful signals about audience fit.

Keep making content people want to watch to the end. That - and not a renamed button - is what actually moves the needle.

Pro takeaways for creators

Treat every second of a Short like a promise you must keep. Break it, and viewers swipe - or tap "Not Interested."
Design for the right viewer, not the most viewers. Alignment beats reach when the algorithm is listening for satisfaction.
Don't measure your worth by a public counter that was always easy to game. Studio data and long-term retention tell the real story.