After announcing at the end of March that some would no longer see the number of “dislikes” under the videos they watch, YouTube announced, Wednesday, November 10, the generalization of a system intended to protect creators from harassment and targeted attacks.
The number of “I don’t like” under the videos broadcast on its platform will now be hidden. Users will still be able to click the “I don’t like this content” button, but they will no longer see the negative review count.
👍👎 In response to creator feedback around well-being and targeted dislike campaigns, we’re testing a few new design… https://t.co/uru1TYvx3I
Creators will be able to see the number of thumbs pointing down in their private YouTube Studio area, where they can view various data on their channel. “We want to create an inclusive and respectful environment that allows creators to be successful and to express themselves safely”YouTube explains in a statement. “This novelty is one of the many measures we are taking to continue to protect creators from harassment”, added the platform, which is part of the Google empire.
YouTube knows a thing or two about it. In 2018, his “Rewind”, a video supposed to summarize the highlights of the last twelve months on the platform, has greatly displeased users and is officially the most hated video on the site with, today, more than 19 million “Dislikes” .
YouTube specifies that it has conducted a test with certain creators to determine if not showing the “dislike” button limited the number of negative clicks. The results have turned out to be conclusive, especially for small creators and those just starting out. Finally, for the sake of pedagogy, the platform has published a video, subtitled in French, explaining its approach.
Social networks fight against harassment
Since May, Facebook and Instagram users have been able to hide the number of likes their posts collect. Large social networks and video platforms are frequently targeted by elected officials, regulators and associations, who believe that they are not doing enough to fight against online harassment. Facebook currently concentrates most of these criticisms.
The company led by Mark Zuckerberg is going through one of the worst crises in its history since the revelations of a former employee and whistleblower who accuses Facebook of putting its profits before the safety of its users.
At the end of October, representatives of TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube had to respond to US parliamentarians accusing them of harming the mental and physical health of younger people.