Facebook Is Finally Getting A Dislike Button

For years, Facebook users have been giving the thumbs up to a “dislike” button to accompany the “like” feature. He says it’s an opportunity for him to update Facebook users on how the company is working to make new services.

Zuckerberg acknowledged people have been asking for a dislike button for several years. “If you are sharing something that is sad, whether it’s something in current events like the refugee crisis that touches you or if a family member passed away then it may not feel comfortable to “like” that post”, he said. For example, you might be less likely to post something you might think is unpopular with your friends if it’ll just end up branded with dozens of dislikes.

However, the developer who created the “like” button said that the creation of “dislike” button was also debated, but it was decided the potential negative fall-out would be too great. “And that’s not something that we think is good for the world”.

Depending on how the test version goes, the alternative could be rolled out to users more broadly, he said.

“What they really want is the ability to express empathy”.

It’s unclear if the button will be labeled as “dislike”, or something else. He announced the news during a Town Hall Q&A today from Facebook’s headquarters. “Today is a special day because today is the day I can say we’re working on it and shipping it”, Zuckerberg said, according to Business Insider. The tool wouldn’t be for expressing disdain for posts, he said.

The company will live-stream a video of the interview on Zuckerberg’s Facebook page and Modi’s.