YouTube is implementing a variety of updates to Shorts, including a fresh feature that enables users to reduce the length of their short-form videos.

The platform, owned by Google, revealed on Thursday that Shorts now includes an option that permits users to increase their playback speed. The aim of making an already brief experience even shorter is to help users “take in information more swiftly or locate your favorite segment quicker,” according to the platform.

In an apparent effort to foster a more positive online environment, YouTube has also eliminated the dislike button for Shorts. Now, instead of expressing disapproval for a video, users will need to use the “Not Interested” and “Don’t recommend this channel” features to deter specific types of content.

Likewise, rather than pressing a thumbs-up button if they enjoy a video, users will now be able to use a heart emoji.

Lastly, YouTube is introducing a new “Clear Screen mode,” which aims to temporarily remove “all icons and text from your playback view,” providing users with an unobstructed view of their content free from distracting overlays.

All of these modifications are aimed at creating “a more intuitive Shorts experience,” stated the company. It remains unclear when these updates will be officially rolled out. The company mentioned that the features will be implemented gradually, but specific dates were not provided.

TechCrunch contacted Google for further details.

YouTube debuted Shorts in 2020 and has successfully drawn a substantial audience since that time. As of June 2025, YouTube Shorts was reportedly averaging 200 billion views daily, as noted by CEO Neal Mohan during his keynote address in Cannes last year. (This noteworthy statistic can be contextualized with the fact that YouTube defines a “view” as the initial moment a video is played.)

A report earlier this year indicated that Shorts were increasingly being viewed on users’ TV screens — with consumption reaching as high as 2 billion hours of such content each month.

Correction June 26: This article has been updated to rectify the year Shorts was launched.