Showing your disdain for something on Facebook has always involved commenting, as opposed to having a nifty little ‘Dislike’ button to express your displeasure over a status or picture.
Until now that is.
Just imagine the following scenario. You see someone on your Facebook list who has shared the details of a person passing away or some similar tragic occurrence that deserves sympathy. Common sense would dictate that people would express their thoughts in a comment. ‘Liking’ such a status can be easily misconstrued.
It was this thinking that led Mark and Co. to bring a much needed change for Facebookers, especially in light of the social giant boasting 1 billion daily users. Like it or not, Facebook has become an ongoing facet of life for most people.
The new button is intended to ‘express empathy’ on a Facebook post
According to Mark Zuckerberg, a Dislike button is coming to Facebook soon, one that involves just a click or a tap to make your views known in a different way. Before people start thinking about the potential abuses that a ‘Dislike’ button on Facebook might be inviting (for harassing people, brands or celebrities for instance), Zuckerberg also added that the new button is intended to ‘express empathy’ on a Facebook post.
According to Zuckerberg’s remarks, it is safe to assume that people won’t be cluelessly liking a post that details a public tragedy or someone’s private loss. Instead, the inclusion of a ‘Dislike’ button may be in the hands of a user. In some posts, giving that ubiquitous ‘Thumbs Up’ sign could come across as socially inappropriate and this way Facebook can let users control how their posts are meant to be shared.
One interesting point here is that people have started to liken the ‘Dislike’ button to the ‘Downvote’ comment button on Reddit. However, judging by Zuckerberg’s utterings, the dislike and like buttons wont act like downvoting and upvoting people’s posts in a similar manner.
The new button will be available for all users in the coming weeks
Expect the new button to roll out in the coming weeks. Facebook’s CEO remarked that they are working on getting that ‘Dislike’ button properly developed and tested. After all, it has been a top request from users over the years and Zuckerberg needs to get it exactly right so that it doesn’t turn into a tool with potential for abuse.
The internet has, in typical internet fashion, reacted to this development with varying degrees.
‘Now that everyone dislikes Facebook, it’s getting a ‘dislike’ button.’ – Billy Steele, Engadget
https://twitter.com/theshamingofjay/status/643901184466636801
Slightly worried that a Facebook dislike button might mean people on the internet start being nasty to each other. That would be a shame.
— David Schneider (@davidschneider) September 15, 2015
https://twitter.com/Home_Halfway/status/643900825123864576
https://twitter.com/anaulhaq/status/643880806247608320
That’s great.
First of all, I will dislike Aamir Atta’s profile picture On Facebook..!! Itny Saal Ho Gye Han, Par Change Nhi Ki :P
Lol
me too :P
HAHAHA
A lot of “empathy” will be shown to our political leaders for sure! :P
Beware, Auto Disliker coming soon!
Damn it. Now, most of my posts will receive more dislikes than likes.
Nice, ab dostiyo ka miyar bhi badly ga.
Once rolled out. Men will be using “dislike” button to appreciate a post by fellow nigga and women will be using “like” button to falsely appreciate a post by fellow churail.
Once FB said it will add some kind of sympathy button, it seems different. Let’s see
Now people will start campaign. “” we need 10,000 Dislikes on Others page within 1 day “” lol
if the purpose is only Empathy than they can add sad face :( button
Haha, it will work like the dislike button on Reddit. ;)
I assure you, mark my words, there will be no dislike button on facebook. These are all rumors floating. Even if mark said its coming, he will have to think 100 times before actually adding it to platform.
Current method of doing nothing about posts you dislike works best. dislike button will make things controversial