27/06/2026 04:29 - Tecnologia
The short-video section of YouTube has introduced new features designed to enhance user experience, clearly aiming to compete more aggressively with TikTok and Instagram Reels.
Users can now double the playback speed of Shorts, matching functionality already available for traditional YouTube videos.
Videos up to 3 minutes can now be watched entirely in just 1 minute 30 seconds.
YouTube removed the thumbs-down button in favor of more constructive options like "Not interested" and "Don't recommend this channel."
The "Like" button has been replaced with a heart emoji.
The new mode temporarily hides icons and text during playback for distraction-free viewing.
Perfect for those who want to focus solely on the content.
As YouTube explained in their official announcement, the goal is to create "a more intuitive Shorts experience" that allows users to "absorb information faster or find their favorite parts of a clip more quickly."
The removal of the "dislike" button follows a trend from other platforms like Facebook, which removed that option last year, arguing that such features "reflect an earlier era of social media."
TechCrunch noted that this move appears to be "an attempt to create a more positive web", avoiding negative pressures in digital environments.
YouTube announced that the rollout will be gradual, without specifying exact dates for implementing these new features.
Users can expect to see these updates in the coming weeks as they expand to all devices globally.
YouTube Shorts competes directly with TikTok and Instagram Reels in the short-form video market. Google's platform has invested heavily in this section to capture the growing demand for bite-sized content.
As CEO Neal Mohan explained during his presentation at Cannes, the "view" metric counts from the very first moment a user opens a video, reflecting true engagement.
Sources: Cadena 3 | Rosario3 | TN Tecnologia
Alfredo S. Quiroga
