Ratings: 5 Stars Vs. Like or Dislike
YouTube has changed their rating system from the choice of 1-5 stars to a like and dislike dichotomy. People are more likely to respond to a video with a rating if it is simply compartmentalized by the choice of like or dislike. However, the black and white outcome seems detrimental in comparison to taking the time to rate something with a range of possibilities.
There is a lot more room for judging without consideration and for rushing through a video with an extreme response when we rely on the simple like and dislike system. The “this sucks” mentality and the mind’s use of other extreme black and white polarities can surface with the like or dislike limits. Even if someone does like a video, but they do not love it, they could still simply mark that they dislike a video. YouTube has also implemented likes or dislikes for comments, and it is helpful for disagreeing with an abusive statement or helping in reporting. Yet, if people dislike certain opinions, it could just lead to people being afraid to share their opinions. Not only the video creators, but also audience members and critics can suffer from insecurities or lack of respect.
Of course, there are positive aspects of the like and dislike system because of the simplicity. As I said before, people are more likely to give feedback to a video if it is simple, and some people prefer a simple yes or no decision about their work. I know if I get a b in a class, I am typically unsure if I actually know the material or just did okay in the class. If I have an A, I know I did well, and if I have a D, I know that I really did not understand the material that well or that I did something incorrectly. People tend to be worse critics toward themselves than others are towards them, and they may infer way too much detail with the in between or ambiguous responses to their work. Unfortunately, sometimes what works best is just dependent on opinions of other opinions.
The five star system is imperfect based on the complexity. For a site that is typically casual like YouTube, it may not make sense in most cases to rate a video on a scale. Typically, 0 stars means uninterested, 1 star means that someone really did not like it, 2 stars means someone did not like it very much, 3 stars means someone did like it, 4 stars means someone really liked it, and 5 means someone loved it. However, the rating system is open to interpretation and even interpreting what each star means will be very different for each person. Some people may even believe that 1 star means uninterested and 2 means that they hated the video. When a lot of options are given, there can always be a miscommunication and a vicious cycle. Humans are cognitive misers anyway, and simplicity is best for many people. People that prefer more inferring of their critiques may typically be more interested in writing a comment with a rating.
Who says videos on YouTube cannot be treated as importantly as an Oscar winning movie? In the end, the 5 star rating system is a way to make YouTube more eloquent, and it could manifest a new respectability to the site. When people take their time to think about a video and a response for a video, they are more likely to think critically before they leave a comment as well. Realizing that there are many levels to an opinion could prevent black and white thinking while rating and in other instances as well. Some people may leave a comment first, but typically, if they feel strongly enough about a video to comment, they are likely to leave a rating first. The rating section is closer to the top of the page than the comments section is. Eloquence and in depth thinking can be used anywhere, and they are typically helpful for all thought processes.
Overall, maybe it is best to keep the 5 star system in order to keep fairness and diversity in the YouTube environment. There is always the possibility to implement the rating system and the like or dislike system simultaneously, but that may become convoluted. Pros and cons for both systems have been shown, and it may be helpful to let the creator of a video decide which option they would like to put on their video. Maybe someone would prefer not to have any choice to rate, like, or dislike on their video, or maybe someone wants rating or liking and disliking included one at a time.