Facebook and the Dislike Discussion

Occasionally I read a body of text that strikes me as particularly clever or amusing, and I find myself searching for the ‘Like’ button. Absurd? Yes, but also an indication of the remarkable effect Facebook has had on our day-to-day lives.

You may have heard of Mark Zuckerberg – child genius, Social Media champion, Facebook inventor. He probably stirs up a variety of emotions from intrigue to jealousy, gratitude to dislike.

Funnily enough, he may be about to change the very way we share such emotions with our friends. Again. The ‘Dislike’ discussion has been raised and he confirmed that a move towards this sentiment is in the pipelines.

 

Facebook Dislike button
Facebook Dislike button

 

Why People Like the Dislike Idea

For a long time users have discussed the desire for a Dislike button. The alternative option, the Like button, already in existence and an inextricable manifestation of the online world in society, has become a signal of multiple sympathies: an agreement, an appreciation, a generic enjoyment of another’s post.

But it is one particular example that stirs confusion around the use of the button, and that is when a friend confirms sad news like that of a loved one passing. Do you hit Like to show support, or does that fail to convey your feelings?

 

Why This Is Such An Important Discussion

Because of this, any changes the network is contemplating have the potential to drastically alter the way we communicate. Not all Facebook updates do this, but they certainly have the potential to.

One such concern revolves around an issue that we have already seen from the Like option. Jack Linshi of Time online writes:

Like Anxiety… strikes when your posts aren’t getting as many Likes as you think they deserve. While the Like button has made it easier to quickly express emotion on Facebook, Like Anxiety has turned the platform into a popularity contest and insecurity hotbed.

Conversely, a Dislike option could become a beacon of abuse and a cause of depression.

 

Why Facebook Probably Won’t Roll Out The Dislike

Because of all this, it is far more likely that the social media giant will aim to give users the opportunity to display one-click emotions that lean away from outright disapproval.

From a Facebook point of view, a Dislike button could result in a disastrous fall away of status updates and conceivably Facebook usage as a whole. So the opportunity to convey feelings of sympathy and amusement and what have you is far more ‘Like’ly [if you’ll forgive the pun].

We, as a race, have developed on the back of communication. The sharing of thoughts, of emotions, of ideas. The fact that one of the greatest forms of sharing in recent generations has, to a large extent, been decreased to the options of a Like or a Share is nearly inconceivable. With this in mind, it was only a matter of time before the Dislike conversation stepped up a notch. Whether you’re an individual or a corporation, this is a topic best kept on your radar.