YouTube is experimenting with a new approach to negative feedback on its Shorts feature, potentially renaming the traditional “dislike” button as “Not Interested” and relocating it within a pop-up menu. The test, currently visible to a subset of users, merges the thumbs-down action with YouTube’s existing “Not Interested” button.

Changes in the Shorts interface

In the latest user interface experiments, YouTube has removed the dislike button from the main Shorts sidebar and placed it inside a contextual menu alongside the “Not Interested” option. Depending on the test group, users either see the label “Dislike” or “Not Interested” attached to the thumbs-down icon. YouTube says the goal is to clarify what a negative interaction means and how it should inform the platform’s recommendation systems.

YouTube is reworking negative feedback

In 2021, YouTube decided to hide public dislike counts across its platform, a change intended to lessen harassment and “dislike-bombing” campaigns by making dislike totals visible only to creators, not the general audience.

By blending the dislike and “Not Interested” actions in Shorts, YouTube could reduce confusion about what each signal actually means while giving algorithmic models clearer data on content preferences. How creators and users react to the renamed function will likely shape future feedback tools across the broader platform.

YouTube has responded to questions about its use of automated moderation after disclosing that roughly 12 million channels were terminated in 2025. The company said the majority of removals were the result of enforcement against spam, scams, impersonation and other forms of deceptive or repetitive content, much of which is identified through automated systems.

The use of AI for moderation

According to YouTube, AI-based tools are used to detect policy violations at scale, often flagging channels before content gains wider distribution. The platform stated that automation plays a central role in managing enforcement across billions of uploads, while human reviewers are involved in more complex cases and in reviewing appeals.

“AI will make our ability to detect and enforce on violative content better, more precise, able to cope with scale,” YouTube CEO Neal Mohan said.

The platform was under fire after creators raised concerns about false positives and limited explanations for enforcement actions. YouTube said that while automation is responsible for many initial decisions, its systems are designed to prioritize clear policy violations and reduce harm across the platform.

Enforcement processes and appeals

YouTube reiterated that creators whose channels are terminated are permitted to submit an appeal through YouTube Studio. The company noted that each channel is eligible for one appeal and encouraged creators to include detailed information to support their case. YouTube did not provide data on how many terminations are overturned following review.

The platform acknowledged that enforcement decisions can be frustrating, particularly when creators believe removals were made in error. It said work is ongoing to improve how policy explanations are communicated and how moderation tools interpret context.

YouTube said automated enforcement remains necessary due to the volume and speed of content uploaded to the platform. The company added that it continues to invest in improving detection accuracy, especially as generative AI tools contribute to increased volumes of low-quality or misleading content.

While YouTube maintains that automation is a core part of its moderation strategy, it said systems are regularly updated based on feedback and review outcomes.

YouTuber WhistlinDiesel, whose real name is Cody Detwiler, has accused Tennessee state authorities of attempting to block him from speaking publicly about his November arrest on tax evasion charges. The creator says he was hit with a court motion that effectively acts as a gag order, prohibiting any pre-trial commentary about the case across social media.

According to Detwiler, the filing cites his large online audience and argues that his statements could influence potential jurors. The documents also reference his merchandise, which displays the publicly released indictment, suggesting authorities believe social media posts could affect the state’s case.

Arrest and charges

Earlier in November, Detwiler was indicted on two felony counts of tax evasion, tied to a 2020 Ferrari F8 Tributo allegedly purchased without paying the required state sales tax. Prosecutors claim Detwiler and his company attempted to evade at least $500 in owed tax, though other reports note the amount in question could be much higher.

The Ferrari in question was famously destroyed in a 2023 video in which it burned to ashes, a standoff that drew millions of views. Despite the high-profile nature of the vehicle and its fiery demise, authorities cited its out-of-state registration and unpaid tax as grounds for pursuing charges. Detwiler was released after posting bond.

In his statement, Detwiler denied any threats were made and urged followers not to harass or target anyone involved in the case. The creator said he was sharing what he legally could while the matter remains in court. Detwiler’s next court hearing is pending, though no date has been publicly confirmed.