YouTube, one of the most dominant social media platforms, receives over 100 million users daily according to Global Media Insight. Many of these viewers dislike videos without considering the impact it may have on a creator. Consequently, YouTube recently removed the dislike counter, which publicly cited the number of dislikes on a video. While this relieved many creators, it sparked outrage among viewers who claim these dislikes help decide whether or not to watch a video. Despite the backlash, YouTube’s foremost goal should be to discourage cyberbullying and prioritize mental health, and removing the dislike counter is essential for a more empathetic online community.
YouTube formally announced its decision to remove the dislike counter in a blog post on November 10. The social media giant explained that eliminating this feature would promote “respectful interactions between viewers and creators …. and reduce dislike attacks — where people work to drive up the number of dislikes on a creator’s videos.” These attacks frequently occur on smaller channels, inhibiting potential account growth and disheartening creators. Removing the dislike counter will now protect up-and-coming influencers.
Instead of relenting against opposition to their decision, the primary concern for YouTube should be to protect its community. In a tweet, YouTube Liason Matt Koval stated, “I wasn’t supportive of this change until I saw the stories — from lots of new and small creators trying to make it.” When these viewers target small creators, disliking their videos without considering repercussions, content creators are deterred from continuing their channels.
Despite the importance of this decision, opponents claim that removing the dislike counter infringes on freedom of speech and expression. However, other social media platforms, such as Instagram and Tiktok, do not have a dislike feature, proving YouTube can be successful and enjoyable even without an option to express one’s dissatisfaction. Moreover, although many believe the dislike counter to be a quick gauge of video quality, viewers must realize that this feature reflects others’ opinions and is not objective. Creators work hard to make content, and those who did not enjoy the video do not need to indicate their discontent publicly.
While many viewers express their disappointment with YouTube’s decision, it is imperative to acknowledge the benefits of removing the dislike counter. David Yeager, a professor at The University of Texas at Austin, recently conducted a study to investigate the psychological effects of receiving inadequate positive feedback online. He stated, “This study is an important scientific advance because it uses an experiment, and it shows that not getting enough ‘likes’ actually causes adolescents to reduce their feelings of self-worth.”
A dislike feature solely exacerbates the threat that social media poses to one’s mental health because it lowers self-esteem, as dislikes are constantly being compared. The lack of a dislike counter allows creators and viewers to focus on positivity rather than negativity, promoting more compassionate communities.
The original intent of YouTube was to provide a safe space where users could share their talents and receive outreach from viewers around the world. YouTube and other social media platforms allow one to keep in touch with family and friends, while also meeting new people. However, a dislike counter hampers positivity and makes it difficult for smaller creators to enjoy sharing their work. Promoting mental health and kindness should be the priorities of any social media platform, and YouTube’s decision to remove its dislike counter was the first step towards creating a safer community online.
Written by Riya Khatri of Sherwood High School
Graphic by Charles Wang of Walter Johnson High School