YouTube Users Concerned About Platform’s Shift to Reddit-Like Design After “Meaningless” Redesign

YouTube’s recent overhaul of its comments section has sparked significant dissatisfaction among users, many of whom feel it closely resembles the layout popularized by Reddit. This redesign, which emerged in February 2025, aims to enhance user interaction by allowing threaded discussions, yet it has drawn sharp criticism for its lack of innovation.

The Controversial Revamp of YouTube’s Comment Section

As reported by Android Police, this update was included in version 20.05.35 of the YouTube app, introducing a new format where replies appear as threads. However, the implementation leaves much to be desired since only the initial reply is threaded, rendering the design more cosmetic than functional.

The response from the YouTube community has been overwhelmingly negative. Across various social media platforms, users have taken to expressing their confusion and displeasure regarding this shift. A user succinctly summarized the sentiment, stating, “WTF is this sh*t? This change looks terrible and a straight rip off from Reddit comments!” Others echoed this frustration, mentioning that the similarity to Reddit is unmistakable and unwelcome.

New youtube comment section layout? like or not? byu/LemonOver8831 in youtube

Further commentary on the platform has included remarks like, “They turned YouTube comments into Reddit, dawg, ” signifying a widespread disappointment in the direction of YouTube’s design philosophy.

They turn YouTube comments into Reddit dawg….pic.twitter.com/PaAU7tPMeu

— ♠️💕 (@InitialGhost) February 7, 2025

User Frustration and Feedback

Numerous users have described the redesign as “unnecessary, ” “meaningless, ”and “annoying, ” questioning its purpose within the existing comment system. One user pointedly noted, “It’s absolute crap. They had the same layout for years and nobody ever had a problem with it.”

We totally hear you. We’re always open to feedback & looking for ways to improve our platform. You can share your thoughts & experience via our Send Feedback tool, as this helps us track requests & make improvements: https://t.co/Yy4M1DjvLK

— TeamYouTube (@TeamYouTube) February 6, 2025

In response, YouTube’s official account acknowledged the backlash, stating, “We totally hear you. We’re always open to feedback & looking for ways to improve our platform, ” urging users to utilize the feedback tool for suggestions.

Looking Ahead: YouTube’s Future Changes

This redesign controversy is not an isolated incident for YouTube in 2025. Earlier this year, user complaints escalated due to the introduction of lengthy unskippable ads lasting up to 60 minutes, leading the platform to encourage subscriptions to YouTube Premium—a service that saw a price hike in 2024.

As YouTube continues to experiment with its platform, the community remains eager to see how it addresses user feedback and refines its offerings to maintain engagement and satisfaction among its audience.

Source & Images