The dislike button on YouTube has been a controversial topic for many years. Some people believe that it is an important tool for users to express their opinion on videos, while others believe that it can be used to bully and harass creators. In 2021, YouTube announced that it would be making the dislike count private for all videos. This decision was met with mixed reactions, with some people praising the move and others criticising it.

In this guide, we will explain everything you need to know about the YouTube dislike count. We will discuss the history of the dislike button, the reasons why YouTube made it private, and the pros and cons of this decision. We will also provide some tips for creators who want to deal with dislikes in a constructive way.

History of the YouTube dislike button

The dislike button was first introduced on YouTube in 2010. It was originally designed to be a way for users to express their disapproval of a video. However, the dislike button quickly became a way for users to bully and harass creators. In some cases, creators were even targeted with death threats and other forms of abuse.

In 2017, YouTube introduced a new feature called "community guidelines strikes." These strikes are given to creators who violate YouTube's community guidelines. A creator who receives three strikes in a 90-day period will have their channel terminated.

The introduction of community guidelines strikes led to a decrease in the number of dislikes on YouTube. However, the dislike button was still a source of controversy. In 2021, YouTube announced that it would be making the dislike count private for all videos.

Reasons why YouTube made the dislike count private

YouTube cited three main reasons for making the dislike count private:

1. To protect creators from harassment.

2. To reduce the impact of dislike attacks.

3. To encourage more constructive feedback.

YouTube believes that making the dislike count private will help to protect creators from harassment. When the dislike count is public, it can be used to target creators with negative comments and messages. This can be very damaging to creators, especially those who are just starting out.

YouTube also believes that making the dislike count private will reduce the impact of dislike attacks. Dislike attacks are when a group of people deliberately dislike a video in order to damage its reputation. This can be very difficult for creators to deal with, and it can discourage them from creating content.

Finally, YouTube believes that making the dislike count private will encourage more constructive feedback. When the dislike count is public, some people may feel that they only have two options: like or dislike. This can discourage people from leaving comments that offer constructive feedback.

Pros and cons of making the dislike count private

There are both pros and cons to making the dislike count private.

Pros:

• Protects creators from harassment.

• Reduces the impact of dislike attacks.

• Encourages more constructive feedback.

Cons:

• Makes it more difficult for users to assess the quality of a video.

• Can make it more difficult for creators to improve their content.

• Can give creators a false sense of security.

Tips for creators who want to deal with dislikes in a constructive way

If you are a creator who is concerned about dislikes, there are a few things you can do:

• Don't take dislikes personally. Dislikes are not always a reflection of your content. Sometimes, people dislike videos for reasons that have nothing to do with the quality of the content.

• Focus on the positive feedback. There will always be people who dislike your videos, but there will also be people who like your videos. Focus on the positive feedback and use it to improve your content.

• Don't respond to dislikes. Responding to dislikes can only make the situation worse. If someone leaves a negative comment, simply ignore it.

• Use the feedback to improve your content. If you get a dislike, take some time to think about why the person disliked the video. This feedback can help you to improve your content in the future.

Conclusion

The decision to make the dislike count private on YouTube is a complex one. There are both pros and cons to this decision, and it is ultimately up to each individual to decide whether or not they agree with it. However, it is important to remember that the dislike button is just one tool that users can use to express their opinion on videos. There are many other ways to give feedback, and creators should not rely on the dislike button alone.