YouTube Shorts dislike test combines “Dislike” and “Not Interested” into one thumbs-down in three-dot menu, plus surveys. Started Dec 18—how it clarifies confusing feedback!
YouTube Shorts starts testing a unified ‘dislike’ button to clear up confusion between “Dislike” and “Not Interested” options. Rolled out December 18, 2025, for select users, it merges the two into one thumbs-down icon tucked in the three-dot menu, followed by an optional feedback survey. The goal? Sharper signals for better feed tuning without vague taps.
Users often mix them up, per YouTube—some hate content, others just want it gone from recs. This test simplifies: Tap once, explain why if you want. No public dislike counts shown, keeping creator vibes positive while refining algorithms behind scenes.
How the Dislike Test Works
Spot it on Shorts: Three-dot menu > thumbs-down (labeled “Dislike” or “Not Interested” randomly). Hit it, get a quick survey—”Too repetitive?” or “Wrong topic?”—to boost accuracy. It’s A/B tested; some see merged, others separate. Early data hints at higher survey fills vs split options, speeding feed fixes.
This builds on hiding dislikes from main UI last year—now deeper in overflow for less friction on likes/shares. Creators see aggregate negative signals in analytics, not per-video hate.
Why YouTube Shorts Needs This
Shorts algo chokes on mixed feedback: “Dislike” flags quality, “Not Interested” kills recs. Unified taps cut noise, like TikTok’s swipe-away smarts. In India, where 500M+ monthly users scroll Reels rivals, clearer thumbs-down means less spam—fewer dance trends if you hate ’em.
Pain point fixed: Endless cat vids? One tap + “Not my style” = cleaner feed in days. Vs long-form YouTube (public dislikes), Shorts stays light.
Creator and User Impacts
Creators: Less button-bashing, but surveys reveal why (e.g., “Too salesy”). Tweak thumbnails, hooks faster. Top Shorts hit 1B views; bad signals tank that quick.
Users: Smoother scrolls—test shows 20% faster personalization. Rollout? Limited now, wide if surveys pop. Pair with “Save” button tests for balanced UI.
Critics gripe: Hiding thumbs-down curbs honest hate, like 2021 long-form backlash. But Shorts thrives on positivity—algo favors high-engagement anyway.
Broader YouTube Tweaks
This ties into Music app AI hosts and remix boosts. Google’s Gemini 3 Flash powers smarter recs soon. India’s creator economy (₹15K crore) loves refined feeds—less churn, more monetization.
YouTube Shorts dislike test feels like algo housecleaning. If you’re in it, tap away—your feedback shapes billions of scrolls. Hate seeing it? Three-dots hold the power.
