YouTube‘s decision to remove public dislike counts sparked controversy across the platform. As a social media marketing expert who analyzes YouTube audience engagement metrics daily, I understand why creators are frustrated.
Public dislike counts provided valuable feedback on content quality. But in November 2021, YouTube made the metrics private to protect smaller channels from dislike attacks and harassment.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll explain YouTube‘s rationale in detail, address creator concerns, and share tips to assess video quality without visible dislike data. You‘ll also learn how to recover dislike counts on individual videos with extensions like Return YouTube Dislike.
Why YouTube Removed Dislikes
According to YouTube, research showed that a massive influx of dislikes on a video, also called a “dislike mob attack,” could severely damage smaller channels. The change aims to reduce harassment of creators.
YouTube cited a case where a creator‘s video was shared on Reddit, leading to a flood of dislikes and negative comments. This type of coordinated dislike campaign makes creators feel helpless and demotivated.
Similar research from Mozilla suggests that "dislike mobs" typically target smaller channels from underrepresented groups. The bullying often stems from ideological disagreements, not direct issues with video quality.
Arguments For and Against Hiding Dislikes
The decision remains controversial, even among top creators. An open letter criticizing the change gained over 200,000 likes.
Pros of Hiding Dislikes
- Protects smaller channels from mass dislikes due to controversy or competition.
- Discourages “dislike mobs” that aren’t based on video quality.
- Reduces some types of harassing behavior on the platform.
Cons of Hiding Dislikes
- Removes key metric creators use to improve content.
- Makes it harder for viewers to identify low-quality or misleading videos.
- Reduces platform transparency and accountability.
A YouTube co-founder, Jawed Karim, also argued against the change in one of his video descriptions. He believes hiding dislike counts makes YouTube feel “fake” and less useful for viewers.
Tips for Gauging Video Quality Without Dislikes
Though controversial, the change is likely permanent. So how can we assess content accurately without public dislike data?
Check Comment Sentiment
Dig into recent comments on each video. Do viewers seem satisfied? Frustrated? Misled? The tone and substance of comments often reveal issues. Sort by newest first.
Review Like/View Ratios
A poor like/view ratio can indicate problems. Quality videos often have a 10-30% like rate. Be suspicious of extremely high or low ratios.
Check Channel Subscribers
Does the creator have a substantial following and reputation? Large channels tend to produce higher quality content.
Assess Video Content Directly
Watch for red flags like inaccurate information, clickbait thumbnails, weak editing, etc. Use your own judgment.
Use Return YouTube Dislike Extension
This extension by KrolikoFan estimates historic dislike counts using aggregated user data. It can identify videos once heavily disliked.
Seek Additional Review Sources
Check reputable sites like Wikipedia, news, and specialty forums related to the video topic for other opinions.
Can Dislikes Return Publicly?
Currently, it seems unlikely that YouTube will revert its stance and make dislikes fully public again. Their experiments rarely reverse course in response to backlash.
However, creators remain hopeful that YouTube may strike a balance, such as allowing channel owners to opt back into public dislike counts. This could restore transparency while still protecting channels.
Some expect YouTube to sneak dislikes back after updating their algorithms and moderation tactics to prevent dislike attacks. But only time will tell how this saga ends.
Adapting to the Change as Viewers and Creators
The loss of public dislikes marks a major shift in how we evaluate YouTube content. As viewers, take time to thoroughly vet videos through reviews, critical thinking, and direct assessments.
As creators, we must adapt as well. Study your comments and watch viewer drop-off rates for insights. Interact with your audience to learn directly how you can improve.
By working together, we can maintain YouTube‘s value for quality information and discussion, even without visible public dislike tallies. The platform‘s success depends on effort from all users.
