Facebook is preparing to roll out its highly anticipated “Dislike” button. The announcement, which has stirred curiosity among users, was made during one of the periodic “Q&A with Mark” sessions, where Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg addressed the topic.

Zuckerberg previously hinted that the company had been working on alternatives to the “Like” button. Now, he has officially confirmed plans to introduce the “Dislike” button.

According to Zuckerberg, this new feature, which will complement the existing “Like” button, aims to help users better express their emotions in situations where “liking” a post feels inappropriate. For example, in posts about tragic news, such as the passing of a loved one, the “Like” button becomes meaningless. The “Dislike” button will offer users a way to convey empathy and understanding instead.

Addressing Concerns About Negativity

No one wants to see hundreds of “dislikes” on their photo. Given Facebook’s commitment to maintaining a positive and supportive user experience, the introduction of the “Dislike” button was previously considered risky. However, user feedback revealed a strong demand for this feature.

Zuckerberg emphasized that the “Dislike” button is being designed as an “alternative engagement action” rather than a tool for expressing disapproval of content. Unlike YouTube, where the “dislike” option is often used to show disapproval, Facebook’s version will focus on empathy and support.

“Not every moment is a good moment,” Zuckerberg explained, highlighting the need for a way to express emotions during difficult times.

Testing Phase and Future Plans

Zuckerberg also shed light on why this feature was not introduced earlier: “We didn’t want Facebook to become like Reddit, where there’s an upvote/downvote system. That’s why we delayed rolling out such a button.”

The “Dislike” button will initially be available in a test phase, allowing Facebook to gather feedback and make adjustments before making it widely available to all users.