Facebook's new "Reaction" emoji, alternatives to the "Like" button, are currently being tested in... [+]
The ubiquitous "Like" button is no longer the only way to react to a
The social media giant announced on Thursday that it will be testing six new ways to respond to Facebook posts or comments, unveiling emoji reaction icons for "love," "yay," "haha," "wow," "angry" and "sad." The "Reactions" are alternatives to the thumbs-up "Like" button, originally built in 2007 as an "awesome" button, and are aimed at making it easier for users to quickly express a range of emotions.
Facebook cofounder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg said during a town hall last month that users have been asking for a "dislike" button for years. In the session, he said Facebook has resisted making tools that allow users to easily criticize others, but that Facebook was working on a feature to facilitate the expression of sympathy and negative feelings on the service, for example, when users post about events such as a death.
"As you can see, it’s not a 'dislike' button, though we hope it addresses the spirit of this request more broadly," Facebook's chief of product, Chris Cox, said in a Facebook post. "We studied which comments and reactions are most commonly and universally expressed across Facebook, then worked to design an experience around them that was elegant and fun."
A screenshot of "Reaction" emoji on Facebook. (Photo courtesy of Facebook)
Tests of the emoji start on Thursday in Ireland and Spain on iOS, Android and desktop. Cox said Facebook will consider feedback it receives during the tests and aims to roll out the feature to all of the social network's 1.5 billion users soon.
"Today Ireland and Spain can start loving, wow-ing or expressing sympathy to posts on Facebook by hovering or long-pressing the 'Like' button wherever they see it," Cox said.
