Founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, has hinted that the company would soon accompany its “like” button with a downturned thumb “empathy” button. The new addition marks a unique way the Silicon Valley-based company is driving an empathy revolution.
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Before now, there had been growing concerns regarding the limited way of expressing emotions on the platform of one of top ten most valuable brands, according to Forbes. Some users have earlier clamoured for a “disapprove” button to show contempt for posts deemed to have been “stupid.” Such addition, nevertheless, has raised the possibility that Facebook, the world’s largest forum for selfexpression, could soon become a less friendly place. But Zuckerberg suggested that the new button would probably be more nuanced than a simple thumbs-down option. “You don’t want to go through the process of sharing some moment that was important to you during your day and have someone down-vote it,” Mr. Zuckerberg said at the company’s Silicon Valley headquarters.
The company says its over 1.5 billion users have long requested a way to express negative emotions or empathy with something sad or tragic posted on the social network. “Not every moment is a good moment, and if you are sharing something that is sad, whether it’s something in current events, like the refugees crisis that touches you, or if a family member passed away, then it may not feel comfortable to like that post,” Mr. Zuckerberg said. “So I do think it’s important to give people more options than just like.”
Some users have expressed concerns that the new “dislike” button could make the social network a meaner, uglier place. However, Zuckerberg stressed that Facebook would test the new button before introducing it broadly, and refine it based on user feedback. “Hopefully we’ll deliver
something that meets the needs of our community,” he said.
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