Earlier this week, Facebook announced it's testing "Reactions," a set of six emoji-based buttons that will allow users the long overdue ability to respond to content in a more emotionally sensitive way. On Friday, USA Today, clearly feeling the buzz around the impending debut, decided to give the emoji a test run on its own front page:
AdWeek reached out to USA Today Editor-in-Chief David Callaway for a little more information behind the editorial decision:
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Was there any concern about these emojis seeming too flippant next to serious content like the stabbing or Syria?Yes, of course there was discussion about being too flippant.Whose decision was it to use the emojis? Was there much debate among the editorial team?My feeling (as editor-in-chief) is that a billion FB users may soon start using these to share stories—all kinds of stories—which of course is Facebook's intention. Social media and its icons are becoming a dominant form of communication in our world. We wanted to show what they would be like if transferred to print. [AdWeek]
Head over to AdWeek to read the rest of the interview.
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