Last week, CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, announced the company is in the process of testing a “dislike button”. After years saying no to requests from users, Facebook executives have finally decided to offer other feedback option besides the iconic “like button.”
In a public Q+A, Zuckerberg said, “People aren’t looking for an ability to downvote other people’s posts, what they really want is to be able to express empathy.” He uses examples of posting about the Refugee Crisis or a deceased loved one to illustrate occasions when something similar to a dislike button could be useful.
Since the announcement, the possibility of a “dislike button” has garnered a lot of media attention. Chances are the feature Zuckerberg is referring to won't be the thumbs down we picture when we hear "dislike button." Here are some ideas - Wired came up with that fulfill Zuckerberg's "empathy" feature.
For the purpose of this article, however, let's assume Facebook will introduce something very similar to a "dislike button."
It's ideal for adults
A dislike button would play well with the ever-growing 30+ population on Facebook. If you have older friends on Facebook, you're probably familiar with their penchant to overshare on social media. They love posting articles and photos and commenting on other people's.
This demographic likes to engage in debates and share opinions, but they are typically very civil about it. I think they would use a dislike button responsibly and respectfully, in the way Zuckerberg envisions.
Not so great for teens
On the other side though, is the younger demographic who make up the majority of Facebook's users. For this group Facebook is more about entertainment than obtaining information (cue Buzzfeed and Farmville).
Within this demographic, the dislike or empathy button will most likely become a joke. Teens will "empathize" with things like relationship statuses and profile pictures-- not refugee crises.
Without a lot of control on Facebook's part, this demographic would turn a dislike button into something completely different than Zuckerberg intends.
Abuse of the button
Facebook execs' biggest worry has to be cyber bullying. If their version of a dislike button becomes a tool for cyber bullies, they could incur endless wrath from parents and anti-bullying organizations.
Especially amongst the very youngest Facebook demographic, this button could be abused. It will almost immediately become a way for kids to put down others because they will use any means at their disposal to do so. There is almost no avoiding it.
In this case Facebook would be forced to remove or highly monitor the button which would almost defeat the purpose of having it.
Avoidance of the button
In a country where political correctness is of the utmost importance and there is a new movement of sensitivity, Facebook users might be hesitant to dislike anything.
There will probably be an adjustment period in which people don't know how to use the button in a productive way. There's a chance a portion of people won't use the button at all, except those most eager to engage in Facebook debates and controversy.
Overuse of the button
On the opposite side of the spectrum from avoidance, people could start to overuse the dislike button. It could even become the equivalent of the "like button" especially if Zuckerberg makes the new feature more about empathy.
A billion Facebook users already use the existing "like button" to express empathy everyday. Eventually, there might be no differentiating the emotion behind the use of a new button and the current one.
It's too complicated
In the end, when it comes to social media, simpler is better. The addition of another feedback option adds another layer of complexity and more opportunity to stray from Facebook's actual purpose.
Whether it becomes a joke amongst teens, a tool for bullies, or has no real meaning at all, a dislike button won't catch on the way Zuckerberg and Facebook execs envision.
