Tag
youtube-shorts
Instagram's 2x Reels speed, launched 18 months ago, signals what YouTube and TikTok already know: audiences want control, not shorter videos
Double-speed playback has rolled out across every major short-form platform since early 2025. The shift isn't about shrinking attention spans, it's about letting viewers decide their own pace, and that changes what social marketers need to optimise for.
YouTube Shorts removes dislike button as platform shifts to hearts and menu-based feedback
The change, rolled out in July 2026, removes a visible negative signal from the interface and redirects creators toward watch time and swipe-away rates as their primary performance metrics.
YouTube finally lets creators upload custom Shorts thumbnails
After years of requests, YouTube Partner Program creators can now fully customise Shorts thumbnails, bringing the format in line with long-form videos and rival platforms. Plus, AI-generated thumbnails land in Ask Studio.
YouTube Shorts ditches thumbs down for hearts: what the feedback shift means for creators
YouTube replaced binary like/dislike buttons with a heart icon and granular "Not Interested" controls in early July 2026. The change isn't cosmetic: it's a bet that clearer feedback signals will sharpen the algorithm and tell creators what dislikes never could.