Facebook appears to finally be taking heed of its users' number one request – a counterpart to the 'like' button. Founder Mark Zuckerberg says the social network is "very close" to implementing a new ‘dislike’ button designed to allow users to express sorrow or empathy.
For years, users have been pointing out that the Facebook 'like' button doesn't run the full gamut of emotions. A touching tribute to a deceased relative, a self-pitying missive from a hospital bed, or even a rant about missing the bus can all seem inappropriate subjects to 'like'.
However, Zuckerberg says that it has been a struggle to find the right way to let users express more nuanced emotions.
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"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," Zuckerberg explained in a Q&A at Facebook's California headquarters.
"Not every moment is a good moment… I think it's important to give people more options than 'like' as a quick way to emote and share what they're feeling on a post," he added.
For many users, it was a triumphant moment. "First the middle finger emoji, now the dislike button. It seems like we can finally express our true feelings on social media," says tech website Stuff.tv.
Robert Montenegro at Big Think suggests that the move comes as Facebook is trying to stave off a "decline phase". "How does a company deal with a popularity hiccup?" Montenegro asks. "Give the people what they want."
Not all the reaction to the news has been positive, however, with many media commentators observing that Facebook is hardly lacking in attention-seeking behaviour already, and the ability to rack up empathy points will surely increase the urge to wallow in misery.
"It could become a sadder place, as less rosy content will be better able to compete with adorable pet photos and ice bucket challenges," says Time. However, it applauds the new button as a savvy business move, as "showing users a wider variety of things they deeply care about will only keep them coming back to Facebook".
Meanwhile, The Verge asked readers to vote for an alternative button they would like to see. Options include: "Your politics are reprehensible" and "I find you attractive, but have nothing of substance to say".
