Facebook to introduce alternative to ‘like’ button

Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg says social network will soon launch a button which will allow users to express empathy.

Facebook passes one billion users in one day
Zucherberg said the new button is ready to be tested soon and could be rolled out broadly depending on how it does [File pic - EPA]

Founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg has announced Facebook will soon launch a button which will allow users to express empathy.

Addressing a Q&A session held at the US company’s headquarters in Menlo Park, California, the 31-year-old acknowledged that “like” is not always appropriate for some posts – about a tragic news event, for example – when people might want to express empathy.

Speaking at the event, that was streamed live online, Zuckerberg said that people has been asking for a “dislike” button on the social media site for years.

undefined

However, he said the company had veered away from making a “dislike” button, which could be used to vote down other people’s posts.

“Probably hundreds of people have asked about this, and today is a special day because today is the day that I actually get to say we are working on it, and are very close to shipping a test of it.”

He said the new button is ready to be tested soon and could be rolled out broadly depending on how it does.

The company’s now-iconic “like” button was introduced in 2009.

Source: AP