YouTube users worried after “likes” removed from videos without warning

As a long-time YouTube user who’s witnessed its transformation over the years, I can’t help but feel a sense of deja vu when I see yet another controversial change being tested. The sudden disappearance of likes on videos was certainly an unsettling experience, and it brought back memories of the dislike count removal a few years ago.


On November 5, 2024, numerous YouTube users expressed worry after they noticed the “like” count on their videos mysteriously vanishing, suggesting that the platform might be experimenting with a potentially contentious update.

YouTube has recently implemented a number of contentious changes, which have caused many users to feel disappointed or frustrated with the Google-managed video service.

2024 saw YouTube encounter significant backlash, stemming from introducing pause-screen advertisements, raising YouTube Premium prices, and allegedly circumventing adblockers.

On November 5th, several video viewers started observing that the ‘like’ counter on videos was absent temporarily and later reappeared again.

A multitude of posts surfaced on Reddit, expressing annoyance as the ‘likes’ were completely taken away.

No likes anymore now 😔
byu/Accurate_Till7811 inyoutube

One user posted, ‘There are no likes left now,’ along with an image demonstrating that the number of likes on a video has disappeared.

Was it confirmed that YouTube took away the ‘like’ feature?” is one possible way to rephrase the original statement, using a more conversational tone and clarifying the question by adding the context provided in the screenshot.

Did Youtube remove likes?
byu/TheVPNway inyoutube

Despite the resurgence of likes later on, the event initially sparked concerns among many, as they feared it might be indicative of future issues. This apprehension was heightened due to YouTube eliminating the dislike count approximately three years prior to this incident.

As a devoted follower, I can’t help but express my bafflement when considering the possibility of YouTube eliminating likes and dates. To be honest, it seems downright irrational to me. However, given YouTube’s history of making some unexpected decisions, I wouldn’t be shocked if they decided to take this step as well.

Another person added, “I truly hope that was not a trial run for the modifications they’ll implement next.

Another person playfully suggested that YouTube’s ultimate version might simply consist of a video without any title, view count, likes, dislikes, release date, subscriber count, or channel identification.

I cant see the likes anymore…
byu/Humble-Temperature69 inyoutube

A fresh occurrence transpired last week, following disclosures about the platform experimenting with a revised structure, which conceals both the date a video was posted and its view count. Nonetheless, YouTube explained that this anomaly stemmed from an issue linked to browser add-ons.

Currently, likes are functioning again, and some suspect this problem was due to a technical glitch. It’s understandable that users might worry this could be a new addition to YouTube, considering the criticism its previous tests have faced.

Last October, I found myself exploring a lighter, more affordable version of YouTube Premium, which still featured ads but at a lower cost compared to the regular Premium package.

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2024-11-05 21:48