A Big Thumbs Down for the New Dislike Button on Facebook
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

A Big Thumbs Down for the New Dislike Button on Facebook

Did Facebook just make cyberbullying that much easier?

118
A Big Thumbs Down for the New Dislike Button on Facebook

Surprise! All those Facebook pages campaigning for a dislike button back in 2009 have been given the thumbs up from Mark Zuckerberg.

In a public Q&A on Tuesday, Sept. 15, Zuckerberg revealed that "Facebook has been working on a button that would allow users to dislike posts and that the company is "very close" to shipping a test of the feature."

I can't even begin to explain how terribly this simple change could go.

With all the different social platforms that exist nowadays, it's becoming increasingly easy for cyberbullying to persist. In fact, according to an article on DoSomething.org, "about 58 percent of kids admit someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online. More than four out of 10 say it has happened more than once." And this is all happening without a button that makes the process of bullying someone (literally) as easy as the click of, well, a button.

This phenomena is due to the fact that people online are able to hide behind a screen. Many things that would not have been done in "real life" simply seem like a funny joke or not a big deal. However this type of bullying is extremely detrimental due to it's public nature, the fact that nothing on the Internet is truly ever gone thanks to screenshots, and other factors as well.

Not to mention the fact that some of us already get upset over someone seeing our post but not liking it. Imagine what will happen to our self esteem when someone can publicly dislike our selfie right there for all the world to see.

Some people might make the argument that the dislike button would allow for people to give support to others who, for example, may share some bad news about health issues or the death of someone they know. People can offer condolences through a single click of a button that conveys that they "disliked" that that terrible news has occurred.

I would argue that if this is the reason for the dislike button becoming a reality, we need to take a serious look at our society. Why do we feel the need to make everything as easy as possible, when the part of the process we're trying to cut out in offering our condolences is the part where we personally interact with other people?

Don't get me wrong, I love social media. However, a line needs to be drawn if social media is cutting human interaction out of an inherently personal type of communication.

From what I can gather, the dislike button will only make it easier for us to crank out impersonal interactions with other people we vaguely remember from that one camp we went to. I can't see how it will help in flourishing our relationships with others, but I can see how it will give many more people the easy ability to emotionally scar others.

This article may not stop the process of Facebook adding a dislike button, but hopefully it can remind you to think before you click. Technology allows us to hold a lot of power in our hands and it's our job to be good stewards of it.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

71061
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

132625
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments