Facebook has had a “like” button for years so users could express approval of a link or status update. But there isn’t a button to press when your friends are sharing bad news.
Facebook is working on a “dislike” button. But it won’t do what you think.
David Ramos/Getty Images
That might change soon, according to CEO Mark Zuckerberg. At an event at Facebook headquarters, Zuckerberg said the company is currently working on a “dislike” button.
But don’t expect the “dislike” button to work like the downvote button on sites such as Reddit. On Reddit, the upvote and downvote buttons are opposites: Upvoting gives the post more attention, while downvoting can consign it to oblivion.
By contrast, Facebook won’t treat a “dislike” as a vote to stop showing the post to other users. Rather, it provides a better option in cases where friends and family paste bad news, like a death in the family or a natural disaster. “What they really want is the ability to express empathy,” wrote Business Insider. “Not every moment is a good moment.”
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