Blog & Company News
Oct 9, 2015
The Facebook Dislike Button Is Here – Kinda
Early last year Mark Zuckerberg announced that a "dislike" button would appear on Facebook. The intent of the button would be to express support when someone shares something sad... but just imagine scrolling along lazily to be confronted with a sweet photo of your ex with his or her new significant other – an impulsive DISLIKE!
Enter Reactions. Facebook’s new feature will give users the option to express seven different sentiments: angry, sad, wow, yay, haha, love, and like. Facebook chief product officer, Chris Cox, clarified in a post: “It’s not a ‘dislike’ button, though we hope it addresses the spirit of this request most broadly, we studied which comments and reactions are most commonly and universally expressed across Facebook, then worked to design an experience around them that was elegant and fun.”
Users can access the Reactions by long pressing the “like” button of a post (mobile device) or hovering via computer. Besides expanding the range of emotions users can express, the feature will provide more insight into what interest its users. Further, this is a major opportunity for businesses to better understand how people are responding to their published content.
While internet trolls are sure to be sorely disappointed at the absence of a strong DISLIKE, the new feature is certain to bring new life and raise the level of engagement of the News Feed. Facebook will initially beta Reactions in Ireland and Spain before rolling out to users worldwide.
Early last year Mark Zuckerberg announced that a "dislike" button would appear on Facebook. The intent of the button would be to express support when someone shares something sad... but just imagine scrolling along lazily to be confronted with a sweet photo of your ex with his or her new significant other – an impulsive DISLIKE!
Enter Reactions. Facebook’s new feature will give users the option to express seven different sentiments: angry, sad, wow, yay, haha, love, and like. Facebook chief product officer, Chris Cox, clarified in a post: “It’s not a ‘dislike’ button, though we hope it addresses the spirit of this request most broadly, we studied which comments and reactions are most commonly and universally expressed across Facebook, then worked to design an experience around them that was elegant and fun.”
Users can access the Reactions by long pressing the “like” button of a post (mobile device) or hovering via computer. Besides expanding the range of emotions users can express, the feature will provide more insight into what interest its users. Further, this is a major opportunity for businesses to better understand how people are responding to their published content.
While internet trolls are sure to be sorely disappointed at the absence of a strong DISLIKE, the new feature is certain to bring new life and raise the level of engagement of the News Feed. Facebook will initially beta Reactions in Ireland and Spain before rolling out to users worldwide. 
