The ‘like’ is the atomic unit of Facebook interaction, the little button click that allows us to approve of a story, flirt with a love interest, and lazily telegraph our interest in something without doing a goddamn thing. But what about when you hate something? Where is the “dislike” button the world deserves?
It’s coming, according to Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. “I think people have asked about the dislike button for many years,” Zuckerberg said in a Q&A, according to Business Insider. “Today is a special day because today is the day I can say we’re working on it and shipping it.”
According to Business Insider, the massive social networking company initially ignored a “dislike” function while rolling out the “like” button because it didn’t want the ecosystem to turn into a Reddit-esque battle between upvoting and downvoting. But finally, Zuck’s come around to the face that human emotions can’t be boiled down to a thumbs up.
“”What they really want is the ability to express empathy,” he said. “Not every moment is a good moment.”
Damn right! Sure, we use the “like” button as a way to show our interest in and to convey the importance of a certain event, but it’s not always appropriate. Do you really feel that great pressing “like” on news of, say, a friend’s parent’s death? Or an overseas terrorist event? Or some moronic statement by a politician? No, of course you don’t. Hopefully, the “dislike” function will solve all of those problems. And if not, well — at least you’ll have away to disapprove of whatever goes up on the Maxim Facebook page.
A ‘Dislike’ Button Is Finally Coming to Facebook
It's about damn time.