YouTube Shorts gets Clear Screen mode, 2x speed, removes dislike
▼ Summary
– YouTube Shorts is adding a “Clear Screen” mode that hides all icons and text for a distraction-free view.
– Users can now double the playback speed and mute audio by tapping pause, then the mute icon.
– The thumbs up icon has been replaced with a heart icon for a more meaningful expression of connection.
– The dislike button is being retired and replaced with “Don’t recommend this channel” and “Not Interested” options.
– The “Not Interested” option includes sub-categories like Irrelevant and Boring to better tune the user’s feed.
YouTube is rolling out a set of updates to its Shorts player, aiming to refine the user experience with cleaner visuals and more responsive controls. The changes, announced today, focus on making the platform feel more intuitive and tailored to viewer preferences.
The highlight is a new “Clear Screen” mode, which removes all on-screen icons and text for a fully immersive, distraction-free viewing experience. To activate it, users can find the option in the overflow menu located in the top-right corner of the player.
On the control side, YouTube is introducing 2x playback speed, a feature the company says was one of the most requested by the Shorts community. Additionally, muting audio has been simplified: just tap the screen to pause, then tap the mute icon to silence the sound.
A notable design shift is the replacement of the thumbs-up button with a heart icon. YouTube describes this as a more meaningful way for viewers to show that a video genuinely connects with them. Alongside this, the dislike button is being retired. In its place, the overflow menu now offers options like “Don’t recommend this channel” and “Not Interested.” The latter allows users to specify reasons such as “Irrelevant” or “Boring.”
These changes are designed to give viewers more precise control over their feed. According to YouTube, the old dislike button was ambiguous, as a “dislike” could mean anything from poor audio quality to simply not being the viewer’s preferred content. By replacing it with targeted feedback options, the platform aims to better understand genuine preferences and improve recommendations.
The updated YouTube Shorts player begins rolling out today.
(Source: 9to5google.com)
