YouTube may be testing a hidden dislike button

YouTube may be experimenting with moving its dislike button into the three-dots submenu, according to reports based on user screenshots on X and Reddit. The changes appear limited, and YouTube has not publicly confirmed a test.

Why it matters for the industry: small interface decisions shape how audiences signal approval and disapproval, and that feedback loop influences creators, advertisers and platform strategy. A change to a visible engagement metric is the kind of product decision that product, design and growth teams watch closely, because it can alter user behavior in ways that are hard to predict.

It is also a reminder that users increasingly notice tests before companies announce them, so transparency and clear communication about experiments remain important for trust.

For product and UX professionals, this is a useful case study in how engagement controls are designed, tested and debated in public.