In November 2021, YouTube made one of the most controversial changes in its history: it removed the public dislike counter. For years, the ratio of likes to dislikes was the internet's most reliable quality check—a way to spot clickbait, scams, and bad tutorials before wasting time watching them. So why did they kill it? In this deep dive, we explore the official reasons behind the removal, the unintended consequences for viewers, and the most popular method to bring the dislike count back in 2026.
Data-Backed Analysis
Working Fixes Included
Community Perspective
Date Dislikes Were Hidden
Public Count Status
Private Creator Data
Extension Users
The Official Reason: Protecting Creators
YouTube's primary stated reason for removing the public dislike count was creator well-being. In their official announcement, they cited research indicating that public dislike counts were harming the mental health of creators, particularly smaller channels and those just starting out.
The "Small Creator" Argument
YouTube data reportedly showed that smaller creators were disproportionately targeted by dislike attacks compared to larger channels. The logic was that by hiding the public score, "haters" would lose the satisfaction of seeing the number go up, thus discouraging the harassment.
What Are "Dislike Mobs"?
A major driver for the change was the phenomenon known as "Dislike Mobs" or "Review Bombing." This occurs when a group of users coordinates to mass-dislike a video, not because of the video's quality, but because of personal animosity toward the creator or a controversy surrounding them.
Targeted Attacks
Groups targeting individuals to bury their content in the algorithm.
Game/Movie Trailers
Companies facing backlash for business decisions via trailer dislikes.
Bot Networks
Automated scripts used to inflate dislike numbers artificially.
The Impact on Viewers & Tutorials
While the intention was to protect creators, the removal stripped viewers of a critical signal-to-noise filter. The dislike bar was effectively the internet's "bullsh*t detector."
- Tutorials & How-To's: This is the most affected category. Previously, if a "Fix Your Computer" tutorial had 50 likes and 500 dislikes, you knew immediately it didn't work or was dangerous. Now, you have to read the comments (if they aren't disabled).
- Clickbait & Scams: Videos promising "Free Money" or fake software downloads now look legitimate at a glance because you only see the 100 fake likes, not the 5,000 dislikes from real victims.
- News & Corporate Updates: It is harder to gauge public sentiment regarding product announcements or controversial news stories without a visible ratio.
How to Bring Back Dislikes (2026)
The community response was swift. Within days of the removal, developers created browser extensions to restore the counter. The most popular and reliable method remains the "Return YouTube Dislike" extension.
Return YouTube Dislike (RYD)
Browser ExtensionThis open-source extension uses a combination of archived data (from before the removal) and the behavior of its millions of users to estimate the dislike count with high accuracy.
- Go to the Chrome Web Store (or Firefox Add-ons).
- Search for "Return YouTube Dislike".
- Click "Add to Chrome" / "Add to Firefox".
- Refresh your YouTube page. The bar and number will reappear.
⚠ Important Note on Accuracy
Since YouTube made the API private in late 2021, extensions can no longer see the exact server-side number. RYD calculates an estimate based on the millions of users who have the extension installed. While not 100% precise, it is statistically accurate enough to spot scams and bad tutorials.
Does the Button Still Do Anything?
Yes. Even without the extension, clicking the dislike button is not a placebo. It serves two distinct functions behind the scenes:
For The Algorithm
Viewer FeedbackClicking dislike tells YouTube's recommendation algorithm "I don't like this." It helps tune your personal feed to show less content like that in the future.
For The Creator
Private DataCreators can still see their exact dislike count in YouTube Studio. They use this data to understand how their audience is reacting to specific videos.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is highly unlikely. YouTube executives have consistently doubled down on the decision, citing positive outcomes in their internal data regarding creator stress levels and harassment reduction.
Yes, the extension is open-source, meaning its code is publicly available for audit. It strictly collects dislike data to function and does not track your general browsing history. It is used by millions of people daily.
No. Dislikes have always been anonymous. Creators can see the number of dislikes in their analytics, but they cannot see the names or profiles of the specific users who clicked the button.
The official YouTube app does not support extensions. However, Android users can use modified YouTube clients (like YouTube Revanced) which integrate the Return YouTube Dislike API directly into the app.
Browse Smarter
While the official dislike count may be gone, the tools to restore it are just a click away. By understanding the ecosystem and using browser extensions, you can regain the ability to spot high-quality content instantly.
