During a live Q&A session streamed live online, Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that the social media giant is working on the dislike button. He said that Facebook wants to provide a button that lets users express emotions beyond the iconic thumbs-up.
Facebook users have always wanted a “dislike” button as the “like” button doesn’t always fit certain status updates and situations, say a death in the family or a crisis. Facebook though has resisted creating it, fearing it would sow seeds of discontent on the world’s most popular social network. But looks like Zuckerberg has finally relented to the popular request:
It’s important to give people more options than just ‘like'” to help express empathy and sympathy. Not every moment is a good moment.
It’s important to note here that Facebook might not be calling it “dislike.” Zuckerberg clarified that he did not want it to be a mechanism with which people could “downvote” others’ posts. Instead, it will be for times when clicking “like” on “sad” posts felt insensitive.
Currently, users have only one option – Like, and it’s unequivocal – you either like something or you don’t. Considering face book’s news feed algorithm is majorly based on the number of likes a post gets to show it higher up on the feed, it probably isn’t helping Facebook much to personalize and connect with the world truly. Victor Luckerson of Time gives a perfect example to illustrate the need for buttons beyond Like
…Users don’t want to “Like” an article about the struggles of Syrian refugees or give a thumbs up when a friend shares that a loved one has died. Thus, Facebook’s algorithm might bury this type of essential content…
In all probability, we won’t see a “dislike” button but something less negative. Probably a “sad” button. Still, a welcome move from users across the web.
Related: How to Check YouTube Dislike Count on Videos