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Here is an easy example to understand the utility of the dislike count: Imagine you are looking for a How-To video on something very common but specific, such

Here is an easy example to understand the utility of the dislike count: Imagine you are looking for a How-To video on something very common but specific, such as changing a car part or Windows setting, and that when you search for this you are given dozens of options. All of these options are 20 to 30 minutes long and 90% of them are either inaccurate, out-dated, or automated click-bait. This lower 90% will have a disproportionate number of dislikes. Each time you click one of these videos the dislike ratio can save 20+ minutes of your life and this benefit is multiplied by dozens of videos and tens of thousands of viewers.

mindcrime 5y ago
I don't have any problem understanding that some people find it useful. I'm just surprised that so many people seem so worked up over this, given the comparison to my own subjective experience, which is that the dislike count has almost zero utility. I suppose it comes down to the nature of how one uses YT. Relative to the things I watch, I can't remember a single time I ever used the dislike count to influence whether or not to watch a given video. shrug Not saying those other people are wrong mind you. Your lived experience is your lived experience and no one really has any standing to contradict that. Just expressing surprise at the degree of just how differently different people are reacting to this.