Facebook to Introduce a ‘Dislike’ Button

The familiar thumbs up icon has been an integral part of Facebook’s structure for the past six years. However, users have long complained that there is no way to show empathy or disapproval for some posts, such as a tragic event. However, it seems those concerns have now been heeded, and founder Mark Zuckerberg has said a new 'dislike' style function is being worked on. Mark Zuckerberg has finally confirmed that Facebook is working on something akin to a "dislike" button that will allow its users to acknowledge users' posts with just a click, but without appearing to approve of said post.

"Facebook realized people want to express emotions other than positivity, especially around posts about sensitive topics," he told the audience at a Q&A meeting, “People have asked about the dislike button for many years. We’ve finally heard you and we’re working on this and we will deliver something that meets the needs of the larger community."

He, however, did not explain exactly how a dislike button would work, adding that the new button is ready to be tested soon and could be rolled out broadly depending on how it does. However, any alternative to the 'Like' button will come with a concern that it could be used as a tool to bully other users.

"If you are expressing something sad... it may not feel comfortable to 'like' that post, but your friends and people want to be able to express that they understand," Zuckerberg commented. Zuckerberg first mentioned the possibility of a new button during a Town Hall Q&A last year.

During a questions and answers session at the company's headquarters in Menlo Park, California, Zuckerberg said, "I think people have asked about the dislike button for many years. Today is a special day because today is the day I can say we're working on it and shipping it".

However, he also suggested the button, when it is released, might not be called "dislike". "We didn't want to just build a dislike button because we don't want to turn Facebook into a forum where people are voting up or down on people's posts. That doesn't seem like the kind of community we want to create," he said.

"People aren't looking for the ability to downvote people's posts, what they really want is to be able to express empathy... We have an idea that we think we'll be ready to test soon and depending on how that does we'll be ready to roll it out more broadly."

However, one priority request is for a "hug" or "hugs" button. This could be more appropriate for many of the statuses on Facebook that users might want to empathize with, but not "like".

The virtual hug has been a staple of the internet and software development companies as well since the early chat room days, and has been around long before Facebook.