YouTube updates – YouTube is rolling out more TikTok-like controls for Shorts, including a “clear screen” mode, a switch from a thumbs-up to a heart icon, optional 2x playback, and a new tap-to-mute option. At the same time, it’s removing the Shorts dislike button and pushing u
The next time you open YouTube Shorts, the screen may look a little cleaner—almost like TikTok’s “clear mode.”
On Thursday. YouTube announced changes it’s adding to Shorts. including a new “clear screen” mode that removes the icons and text from the video you’re watching. YouTube is also replacing the “thumbs-up” button with a heart icon. and it’s introducing an option that lets viewers watch Shorts at 2x speed.
For the 2x option. YouTube says you can speed up a video by holding down the edge of your screen and lifting your finger when you want to return to normal speed. If you want 2x to stay locked, you can press the player and swipe down. There’s also a new way to mute viewing: tap the video and select the “mute” button.
These additions bring Shorts even closer to TikTok’s design language. TikTok has had a similarly named “clear mode” for years, which removes captions, icons, and usernames from the screen. TikTok also supports speeding up videos and uses a heart button for liking.
The updates don’t stop at playback controls. Alongside the new interfaces, YouTube is removing the dislike button. Instead of a negative rating, YouTube is encouraging users to share feedback through the platform’s “Not interested” and “Don’t recommend this channel” options from the three-dots menu.
Taken together, the changes move Shorts further into a fast, minimal viewing experience—less clutter on screen, quicker playback options, and simpler reactions—while shifting how viewers express dissatisfaction.
YouTube Shorts TikTok clear screen mode 2x speed heart icon mute button dislike removal feedback controls
So YouTube is just turning into TikTok now. Great…
Not gonna lie the “clear screen” thing sounds nice but why remove dislike? That’s literally the only way people warn others sometimes. Also the heart instead of thumbs? feels kinda manipulative.
Wait you have to hold your finger on the edge of the screen to speed it up?? That sounds backwards, like how am I supposed to do that while scrolling lol. I don’t even watch with sound so the mute tap button is fine I guess. Dislike gone though?? so basically no accountability.
I swear this is just to hide bad videos. If there’s no dislike then creators can’t tell what’s not working. And the 2x thing… people already speed things up themselves, YouTube’s just making it automatic. Also “Not interested” and “don’t recommend” is kinda the same as dislike but they’re acting like it’s better like nobody will notice.