How to Deal With Negative Comments on YouTube
Introduction
Ever watched one of your YouTube videos take off, only to have your excitement squashed by a mean comment? You’re not alone—negative comments on YouTube are part of the journey for every content creator.
But what do you do when they pop up? Should you delete them or leave them? And how do you make sure they don’t drag you down? Let's dive in and figure out the best way to deal with negative feedback on your channel.
The Reality of Negative Comments on YouTube
Negative comments on YouTube are almost inevitable. When you put yourself out there, it’s normal to feel exposed. The internet’s got plenty of people who make it their mission to spread negative energy, and YouTube is no different. For many content creators, dealing with negative comments is a frustrating but familiar experience.
It’s easy to focus on one negative comment even when surrounded by positive comments. For most YouTubers, seeing a negative comment can feel like a punch in the gut. But why are negative comments so common?
Part of it has to do with how YouTube works—the YouTube algorithm tends to favor engagement, and unfortunately, even negative comments are considered a type of engagement. People who leave hateful comments or offer mean comments are often rewarded by the system with a bit of attention.
Does that mean negative comments are created for engagement? Sometimes, yes. Commenters might just want to stir the pot, or maybe they disagree and don't know how to provide constructive feedback. Either way, learning to deal with negative comments on YouTube is part of becoming a successful content creator.
Types of Negative Comments
Let's take a look at the types of comments you'll commonly encounter on your YouTube channel.
Constructive Criticism
Some comments might seem negative at first, but if you look closely, they’re really trying to help you improve. Constructive criticism often comes with suggestions, like “Your audio quality needs some work” or “Next time, could you explain this part a bit more?” Comments like this are a chance for you to learn and grow.
Hateful and Mean Comments
These are the nasty ones—comments that are purely intended to hurt. It could be something about your looks, your voice, or the way you do things. Hateful comments don't offer feedback; they're just meant to bring you down. When you see the comment, it’s hard not to feel the sting.
Spam or Promotional Comments
Some comments are purely spam or people trying to promote their own content. These often have nothing to do with your video and can be annoying to deal with. YouTube's moderation tools can help keep these types of comments out of your comment section.
Should You Delete Negative Comments on YouTube?
Here's some practical ways to handle negative comments you'll receive on your videos. They come with the territory so hopefully this will help you know the best way to deal with them.
Pros of Deleting Negative Comments
- Maintaining a Positive Community: If a comment is hateful or offensive, deleting it might help maintain a positive community around your channel. Your subscribers will appreciate a comment section free of negativity and spam.
- Removing Distractions: Negative comments can be a distraction, both for you and for your audience. By choosing to delete negative comments, you keep your channel focused on positive and constructive content.
- Your Mental Health: Let’s be honest—even negative comments can mess with your head. If certain comments are getting to you, there’s no shame in deleting them. Your mental health matters, and deleting negative energy from your comment section might just help you stay focused.
Cons of Deleting Negative Comments
- Authenticity: Deleting negative comments on YouTube can make your comment section look a little too polished. People expect a mix of positive and negative feedback, and removing all criticism might seem like you’re hiding something.
- Missing Opportunities: Negative comments can be an opportunity to learn or even turn negative situations into positive ones. Responding to negative comments in a positive way can show your viewers that you’re open to feedback and willing to improve.
- Engagement: Believe it or not, even negative comments help with engagement. The YouTube algorithm sees comments as interactions, whether they’re positive or negative. By deleting comments, you might be reducing the level of engagement on your videos.
Tips to Help You Deal with Negative Comments
Here are some ways to process negative comments on your channel. The main thing to remember is you aren't alone. Every content creator has to deal with these types of comments.
Don’t Take It Personally
It’s easier said than done, but remember—negative comments are often more about the commenter than about you. Some people are just in the habit of spreading negative energy. If you can avoid taking it personally, it’s a lot easier to move forward.
Use YouTube’s Moderation Tools
YouTube Studio provides moderation tools that allow you to hold comments for review. This way, you can filter out the hateful comments before they ever see the light of day. You can also create a list of blocked words that will prevent comments that contain those words from appearing.
Respond Calmly to Constructive Criticism
If a comment is offering constructive criticism, use it to improve your content. Responding to these types of comments can help you build a positive community. Comments can help you become a better content creator if you’re open to them.
Ignore or Delete Hateful Comments
If a comment is purely hateful and doesn’t offer anything constructive, you can go ahead and delete it. No one’s forcing you to keep comments that are negative just for the sake of keeping them. The commenter will probably leave you alone after a while if they don’t get the reaction they’re looking for.
Engage with Your Positive Audience
Negative comments can make you forget about the positive ones. Spend time responding to positive comments and building relationships with the people who support you. A positive environment can help drown out the negativity.
Take Breaks When Needed
Part of being a YouTuber is dealing with negative comments, but you don’t have to face them every day. Sometimes, turning off notifications for comments or taking a break from checking the comment section can be good for your mental health.
Set Boundaries for Your Comment Section
If the negativity is too much, it’s okay to set boundaries. YouTube allows you to disable comments per video, or you can use moderation tools to hold comments for review. Don’t feel pressured to keep comments open if they’re causing you more harm than good.
How to Turn Negative Comments into Opportunities
How you respond to comments can turn a "hater" into a subscriber. Sometimes just saying "I'm sorry this video missed the mark for you. I appreciate the feedback the time you took to leave me this feedback" is enough to turn a negative into a positive.
Respond to Haters with Positivity
Sometimes, responding to negative commenters with a calm and positive reply can turn the situation around. When someone leaves a comment that’s critical but not hateful, try to understand their side of the story. A well-thought-out response can help improve your content and show others that you’re willing to listen.
Use Constructive Criticism to Improve
Not all negative comments are bad. Comments that offer helpful feedback, even if they come across a bit harsh, can be useful. Look for anything in the comment that you can use to improve future videos. Maybe the commenter didn’t like your pacing, or perhaps they found your audio quality poor. Use this feedback to improve your channel.
Showcase Your Thick Skin
A way to deal with negative comments is to show your viewers that you’ve got thick skin. Responding calmly and with humor can sometimes defuse a negative commenter. It shows your audience that you’re not easily rattled, and it might even win over some of your critics.
Pin a Positive Comment
When you get a great comment that’s supportive or insightful, pin it to the top of your comment section. This helps set the tone for the community around your channel and lets others see what kind of interaction you’d like to foster.
When Should You Simply Delete the Comment?
In the following sections I'll cover when deleting a comment is the best course of action.
Hate Speech or Personal Attacks
If a comment crosses the line into hate speech or a personal attack, it’s best to remove it. YouTube’s user agreement doesn’t tolerate hateful comments, and neither should you. These types of comments have no place in your community.
Spam and Irrelevant Content
Comments that are spammy, like someone promoting their own channel or a random product, can also be deleted. They add no value and only distract from your content. The YouTube Studio moderation tools can help you keep these comments out.
When It Affects Your Mental Health
If you find yourself dwelling on certain comments that are negative, it’s okay to delete them. Comments that affect your mental health aren’t worth keeping. Remember, you can’t please everyone, and trying to do so will only drain you.
Building a Positive Community Around Your Channel
My practice is to try and respond to every comment I receive. When a channel is small, this helps you build community with your regular viewers.
Encourage Positive Engagement
Encouraging your viewers to leave a comment that’s supportive or constructive can help create a positive environment. Remind them that their comments can help you improve, and thank those who take the time to offer feedback.
Set Clear Expectations
You can add a note in your video description or at the beginning of your videos about the kind of community you’re trying to build. Let viewers know that you welcome feedback, but that hateful comments won’t be tolerated.
Use “Held for Review” Feature
YouTube has a feature where comments can be held for review before they’re posted. This is a great way to filter out mean comments and ensure that your comment section stays as positive as possible.
Conclusion
Dealing with negative comments on your YouTube channel is tough, but it's part of the process of being a content creator. You have to find the balance between letting comments help you improve and keeping negativity from dragging you down.
Whether you decide to delete negative comments, respond to them, or ignore them altogether, it's all about what helps you maintain a healthy mindset while continuing to make your channel the best it can be.
Remember, you can't please everyone, and that's okay. Focus on your positive commenters, use the tools YouTube provides, and keep creating content that you love—even if not everyone else does.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here's an extended FAQ for "How to Deal with Negative Comments on YouTube: Should You Delete Them?" incorporating the requested terms and format:
Q: How should YouTube creators handle negative feedback on their videos?
A: YouTube creators should approach negative feedback with a calm and professional attitude. It's important to remember that not all negative comments are unconstructive. Some may contain helpful feedback that can improve your future videos. Consider addressing valid concerns, ignoring trolls, and using negative comments as an opportunity to engage with your audience and demonstrate your professionalism.
Q: Is it recommended to remove negative comments from YouTube videos?
A: While it may be tempting to remove negative comments, it's generally not recommended. Deleting comments can be seen as censorship and may damage your credibility as a YouTube creator. Instead, focus on responding to constructive criticism and addressing valid concerns. This approach can help build trust with your subscribers and improve your content over time.
Q: How can I differentiate between constructive feedback and trolling in YouTube comments?
A: Constructive feedback usually offers specific suggestions or critiques about your content, while trolling is often inflammatory and designed to provoke a reaction. Look for comments that provide actionable advice or thoughtful criticism. These can be valuable for improving your next video. Trolling comments, on the other hand, are typically off-topic, overly aggressive, or deliberately offensive.
Q: Should I respond to every negative comment on my YouTube videos?
A: It's not necessary to respond to every negative comment. Focus on addressing constructive criticism and ignoring obvious trolls. Responding to thoughtful negative feedback shows that you value your audience's input and can help turn a negative situation into a positive interaction. However, avoid getting into arguments or responding to comments that are clearly meant to provoke.
Q: How can I use notifications for comments to manage negative feedback more effectively?
A: Enable notifications for comments on your YouTube channel to stay on top of feedback. This allows you to respond promptly to both positive and negative comments. Quick responses can show your engagement and potentially defuse negative situations before they escalate. However, take time to compose thoughtful replies rather than reacting impulsively to negative feedback.
Q: What should I do if negative comments are affecting my mental health as a YouTube creator?
A: If negative comments are taking a toll on your mental health, consider the following steps: 1. Take breaks from reading comments 2. Focus on positive feedback and subscriber growth 3. Delegate comment moderation to a trusted team member 4. Seek support from fellow creators or professional counseling 5. Remember that you can't please everyone, and negative comments don't define your worth as a creator
Q: Are there any YouTube settings that can help manage negative comments?
A: Yes, YouTube offers several settings to help manage comments: 1. Set up comment filters to automatically block certain words or phrases 2. Hold potentially inappropriate comments for review 3. Limit who can comment on your videos (e.g., only subscribers) 4. Disable comments entirely on specific videos if necessary These tools can help prevent some negative comments from slipping through the cracks while maintaining a positive community around your content.
Q: How can I turn negative YouTube comments into opportunities for growth?
A: Negative comments, when constructive, can be valuable for improving your content. Use them to: 1. Identify areas for improvement in your videos 2. Generate ideas for future content 3. Engage with your audience and show your willingness to listen 4. Demonstrate your expertise by addressing concerns professionally By viewing negative feedback as an opportunity rather than a threat, you can continuously enhance your channel and build a stronger connection with your YouTube subscribers.
