Definition
A platform feature that allows users to signal negative feedback on content by clicking a "dislike" or "downvote" button, reducing the content's visible rating or algorithmic score. YouTube famously made its dislike count private for all videos in 2021, removing public downvote visibility while retaining the signal for internal algorithmic use. On platforms like Reddit, downvotes actively reduce a post's visibility score. For creators, downvote patterns can indicate audience misalignment, controversial content, or coordinated negative campaigns, and serve as a qualitative signal alongside quantitative engagement metrics.