Youtube Enhances Shorts With New Features to Compete With Tiktok

WHO:

Techmeme - YouTube is the organization rolling out changes to its Shorts feature.

The Verge - The article mentions TikTok as a competitor to YouTube Shorts.

WHAT:

Techmeme - YouTube is encouraging users to provide feedback by selecting the “Not interested” and “Don’t recommend this channel” options from the three-dots menu instead of using the removed "dislike" button.

Techmeme - YouTube is introducing a new method that allows users to shrink the duration of short form videos.

Techmeme - YouTube is adding a setting to double playback speed for Shorts.

Techmeme - YouTube is eliminating the "dislike" button from Shorts.

The Verge - YouTube is introducing a “clear screen” mode that removes icons and text from videos.

The Verge - YouTube is replacing the “thumbs-up” button with a “heart” icon.

The Verge - Users can now speed up a short by swiping down on their screen.

The Verge - Users can mute videos by tapping the video and selecting the “mute” button.

HOW:

The Verge - Users can lock the speed at 2x by pressing the player and swiping down.

The Verge - Users can speed up a video by holding down the edge of the screen and lifting their finger to return to normal speed.

(UPDATED June 26, 2026 11:54 UTC)

YouTube is now encouraging users to give feedback by selecting the “Not interested” and “Don’t recommend this channel” options from the three-dots menu. This change comes after the platform removed the "dislike" button. The goal is to help users tailor their viewing experience more effectively.

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(UPDATED June 26, 2026 10:09 UTC)

YouTube is rolling out an innovative feature that enables users to shorten the duration of their short form videos. This new method aims to enhance user experience by providing more flexibility in content creation. The change is expected to be available soon, allowing creators to engage their audiences in new ways.

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(UPDATED June 26, 2026 01:45 UTC)

YouTube is rolling out significant changes to its Shorts feature, including the introduction of a setting that allows users to double the playback speed. The platform will also eliminate the "dislike" button, replace the "thumbs-up" button with a "heart" icon, and introduce a “clear screen” mode that removes icons and text from videos. Users can now speed up a short by swiping down on their screen, lock the speed at two times by pressing the player and swiping down, and mute videos by tapping the video and selecting the “mute” button.