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FACEBOOK’S FORMER CHIEF Technology Officer and creator of the Like button, Bret Taylor, has just explained why there will probably never be a “Dislike” button — despite many calls from users for one.
Speaking to Tech Radar UK, Taylor — who left Facebook in 2012 to cofound the mobile productivity suite Quip — explained that a Dislike button would draw too much unwanted negativity to Facebook.
While some people might use it to express sympathy, for example, it could also encourage cyberbullying, something for which the site often comes under criticism.
Taylor said:
[The Dislike button] came up a lot. In fact, even the language of the word ‘Like’ was something we discussed a lot as well.But regarding the Dislike button, the main reason is that in the context of the social network, the negativity of that button has a lot of unfortunate consequences.
Taylor goes on to explain that the Like button was created for times when users wanted to acknowledge something someone did but didn’t really have anything to say.
It isn’t just a sentiment of actually ‘liking’ something, in other words, but rather a replacement for a short comment like ‘wow’ or ‘cool.’
But he thinks a Dislike button wouldn’t work in the same way:
‘I have a feeling that if there were to be a ‘Dislike’ button … you would end up with these really negative social aspects to it.If you want to dislike something, you should probably write a comment, because there’s probably a word for what you want to say.’
The Tech Radar article also posits that a “Dislike” button wouldn’t be as useful as the “Like” for Facebook to serve targeted advertising.
And of course, users can already let Facebook and brands know if they dislike adverts on the site by answering a short survey if they choose to hide specific ads or advertisers from their News Feeds.
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A lot of people dislike Facebook,
button or no button…..
It couldn’t work if someone sensitive put a pic up and it got lots of dislikes that would really have negative effects and we all know how sensitive teenagers can be
Beat me to it Tom. Gave it up about 6 months ago, absolute load of shi’ite. Nobody cares what you are eating for dinner, where you are at in your self endulging world!
Real friends ring or text you or meet up.
Ah well, we’ll always have the dislike button on the Journel..
we should also have a “not sure – kinda agree disagree button” as well – the red and green promote a simple expression of ones real thoughts and forces a self-affirming position even when one isn’t fully green or red as it were !
Journal – get a grey button going there as an experiment – more people might actually read the comments then !
Just do it for a fixed time – up to Christmas let’s say – a asocial experiment and track the usage !
Now there ye have it – I invented the “Grey Button”…With help from Bevin – THANKS Bevin !
Well said Dermot, I gave you a green thumbs up but really wanted to give you a grey “not sure” response!
shame you couldn’t give a red and green for balance ! ..damn I’m after destroying my own invention ! …Noooooooooooo !
I hate liking a post about someone that had died.
I hate that Facebook is used to announce deaths.
Why? It’s no different than using newspapers or radio to announce deaths.
No it is not the same. Deaths are simply announced on the radio or in newspapers to inform people. People who use Facebook always have some post about how they will miss the person in question. I never offer condolences in a comment on these posts. I don’t feel comfortable at all doing so. I think there is a time and place to express grief and I personally don’t think social media is the place. I think if a member of my family passed away the last thing I would be thinking of would be to go and post it on Facebook. But that is just my own opinion.
Ok, do you hate the announcement of deaths, like you originally stated, or the statuses of condolences that people post? It can be annoying, but it’s no different from announcing it on the radio, in newspapers or through texts, or writing messages in condolence books or going to a wake. What exactly is the difference?
I hate people who announce on Facebook that a family member has died and the status post that accompanies it. I have never seen a formal death notice on Facebook. That is why I don’t think they are the same. If people want to offer their condolences that’s their business. I don’t agree with that either. If a person is that concerned about a friend who has lost someone they can pick up the phone, send a mass card or better still, go to the removal or funeral. As I said, it’s just my personal opinion.
You hate people….. Blah blah…..
On an international level it is very useful though. When I moved to Italy, the only way I was able to find out that an old friend of mine had died was her family had written a post to say that she had passed. From there I went and called, but in another country, and only a friend, I had no other way of finding out.
Niamh- What if you don’t live in the country and can’t send a mass card in time or can’t afford to travel to funeral? You take the good on Facebook so take the bad! It’s like saying you don’t like births or marriages as your same reasons would apply! i:e just send a card or pop to the wedding!
And what if a courageous child’s parents, whose son with cancer passes away, after completing a bucket list with posts on facebook,which gave every other cancer victim a reason to live, but who never in fact met any of the other children in question, posts his passing on Facebook, do you just ask the millions of people watching to “Just send a mass card”!!
Grief is a very personal thing. A lot of people these days add people they barely know to their friends list and when they then put up a post all those people see it. Close friends will pick up the phone and ring the person or visit them if that is possible. I think using social media to offer condolences is impersonal. Like I said, that’s simply my opinion. Weddings and births are a happy time; funerals are not and I don’t see them as being the same to be honest.
They should use RIP.ie.
I wonder what all the trolls posting on the journal would do if people couldn’t give them their red thumbs down.
Starve from kindness ????????
I don’t like this.
Well give yourself a red click then !
Ye’re all talking shite
Silence is golden. In the case of facebook statuses, it speaks volumes. If someone says something stupid, let them watch their own lead balloon sink in full public view.
Its ok we have this thumbs down
I would oppose you but I am a rare breed of ape !
Fighting, squabbling, bickering, we never used to be like this
I’d much rather have a ‘meh’ button.
Not convinced by the argument. They should have something like the up- or downvote button on Quora. Even YouTube have a dislike button. There are times when a thumbs down is appropriate – sad news etc.
have your say