YouTube Shorts are getting even shorter with an update that lets you double the playback speed

YouTube is rolling out updates to Shorts, including a 2x playback speed option to help users scan videos faster and a Clear Screen mode that hides interface clutter. The platform is also replacing dislikes with feedback options like “Not Interested” and “Don’t recommend this channel,” while swapping the like button for a heart emoji.

The changes show YouTube optimizing Shorts for faster consumption and less visible negativity, aligning with broader social platform efforts to reduce friction and manage recommendation signals. As Shorts viewership grows, especially on TVs, YouTube appears to be refining the format into a more polished lean-back experience rather than just a TikTok clone.