How often have you seen a Facebook status and thought – I wish I could dislike that? Well perhaps you haven’t, but it seems the popular social media site will be giving you the opportunity to dislike a status by launching a dislike button.
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg revealed the long-awaited button was on its way in a conference with CNBC at his business headquarters. Business Insider reports that Mark said: “People have asked about the ‘dislike’ button for many years, and probably hundreds of people have asked about this, and today is a special day because today is the day that I actually get to say we are working on it, and are very close to shipping a test of it.”
Facebook has been about sharing and positive enforcement since its inception. But it’s no secret that over-sharing is a real contention for a lot of its users, and it might be nice to be able to a least jokingly put those humble braggers in their place once in a while. Though, as Mark suggests, the button is also a great tool for showing sympathy when someone posts about something bad happening. “What [users] really want is the ability to express empathy. Not every moment is a good moment,” he says.
No news yet as to when this new tool will be rolled out, but here’s what the Twitterrati’s had to say about it:
Simon T Just what the world needs more negativity and pressing into people’s self esteem #dislikebutton
Sagar Zole Facebook making #dislike Button …Ab #sabki lagne wali hai… #lol #Facebook #dislikebutton…….
Seth McPartlin On another note, the #dislikebutton is coming to FB. Even as it’s about time that happened, I’m concerned about it being misused.
Jack Cork A #dislikebutton on Facebook? I don’t see what the point is. It gives more people a chance to bully and hate on innocent people.