YouTube appears to be testing a change that would move the dislike button out of its spot next to the like button and into the three-dots overflow menu. The test was first reported by 9to5Google and picked up by The Verge, with screenshots shared by at least two users on X and one on Reddit showing the button either moved or missing.
If the change is implemented, disliking a video would require an extra step, likely reducing how often viewers use the button. Google has not commented on the test, and it is unclear how widely it is being rolled out. The company has previously moved to de-emphasize dislikes: in 2021 it stopped showing public dislike counts to protect creators from harassment, and earlier this year it removed the dislike button from YouTube Shorts entirely.
The reported test fits a broader pattern of YouTube reducing the visibility of negative feedback, a shift that could affect how creators and audiences interact. Without confirmation from Google, however, the scope and intent of the change remain uncertain.