Well, thanks Facebook for officially killing our cynical dreams of dislike buttons and online controversy. It looks like Mark Zuckerberg’s big ‘dislike button’ announcement is more of an emotional roller coaster rather than a simple ‘like’ or ‘dislike’ option. Instead of a single ‘dislike button,’ Facebook is working on multiple ‘Reaction’ buttons through emoji options such as like, love, haha, yay, wow, sad, and angry. But what’s the deal, Mark? Your kingdom has been asking you for a ‘dislike button’ for years and now we get a smiley face? But maybe, just maybe, there’s a plan behind these little ‘Reactions.’
Adweek.com claims that Facebook is currently in the process of testing the ‘Reactions’ in Ireland and Spain. Though many users have been asking for a ‘dislike button’ for a while, in an earlier article, adweek.com also reported that online experts have always figured that Facebook was likely to turn down the ‘dislike button,’ so the ‘Reaction’ test is sure to have some different reactions of its own.
It’s possible Facebook decided to test the ‘Reactions’ because of the company’s success with ‘Stickers,’ which are also emoji-esque and can be used to comment on others’ statuses, photos, etc. The idea could also have come from the fact that the ‘like button’ only allows for one reaction to a post. If a friend were to post something sa
d or traumatic, is it appropriate to ‘like’ the post? If ‘Reactions’ ever make it back from Ireland and Spain, this problem might just be fixed.
The idea behind ‘Reactions’ also relates to its user-friendly nature. Facebook product director Adam Mosseri said, “Typing on mobile is difficult, and this is way easier than finding a sticker or emoji to respond to in the feed.” So if ‘Reactions’ are easier to use, provide many different options, and allow for self-expression, what’s not to love (like, haha, yay, etc.)?
If the ‘Reactions’ past the test, users will be able to engage in online conversations more, but companies and brands are going to have to work with these little emotions as well. ‘Reactions’ might not only change the game for everyday users but also for marketers. Getting an angry ‘Reaction’ or a yay ‘Reaction’ could shift an entire product or companies’ future. We may not have gotten our ‘dislike button,’ but we may have possibly gotten seven new buttons that can open seven new electronic doors.
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