Find me online
Miss Write
  • Home
  • Blog
  • My Writing
  • About
  • WIP

Can I 'Dislike' The Facebook Dislike Button?

20/10/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Do you need to give your opinion on EVERYTHING?! I don't think so!

Currently, if you do not like or comment on something, you can get away with 'not having seen the post', ignoring the new cat photos and news about your 'friends' lives you might not be interested in. However, with the advent of the 'dislike' button, I imagine people will expect more interaction! There's no hiding on Facebook...

What's next? A 'no opinion' button? Would posts without a thumbs up or down mean the possibly cold/unfriendly/disloyal/unsociable/uncaring user had no thoughts or feelings on the matter? This could damage relationships with people who take Facebook too seriously... but then maybe you're not friends with anyone like that!

My primary concern about the introduction of a possible 'dislike' button is the increase of negativity it will inevitably bring. There's too much negative feeling on Facebook - bad day news dominates - and the world and Facebook's 1.49 billion users don't need more. Luckily, Zuckerberg and his colleagues agree.  

No doubt Facebook is introducing the 'dislike' button for more than just public demand. The 'like' button has a feature since 2007, but it's become something the clever Facebook boffins use to tailor the adverts which appear on your feed. It also uses what you say you like to fill your news feed with more of what you like in terms of news, features articles, games and friend news.

Did you see what happened when Matthew Honan liked everything which appeared on his feed for 24 hours in an interesting experiment? The link is worth checking out - read to the end for the result. What you like on Facebook says a lot about you; it can reveal your work networks, the music you listen to, the high street shops you frequent... The list of trivial stuff goes on, but what is more concerning and revealing, is whether you advertise the fact you support extreme political groups on social media. Counter to that, your links to illness or charity work can be linked to your profile, should you choose to reveal it. The 'like' clickable is a huge marketing tool, and the future 'dislike' button, in whatever form it takes, will have the same function. It's all about the money and the value of Facebook. 'Dislikes' will only make it more accurate to judge what the user may like to see advertised. 

The 'like' button can mean so many things: I LIKE the fact you shared this latest news story about the Syrian refugee crisis - the world needs to be aware. I LIKE that refugees are drowning in the Mediterranean Sea, desperate, being smuggled from their countries with nothing but the clothes on their backs. I definitely think twice before liking something nowadays, as my feed is more and more dominated by news articles. 

Professor Andrea Forte, an expert in social and participatory media at Drexel University in Philadelphia, said users will not suddenly turn on each other's posts. "I suspect it will mainly be used to express mild disapproval, or to express solidarity when someone posts about a negative event like a death or a loss." 

Maybe an 'empathy' button would be more appropriate? I'll be interested to see what this button will look like...

Hands joining together? ​A hug might work?

Picture
Picture

​Personally, I think Facebook should stay away from introducing a 'dislike' button. One click, a knee jerk reaction. Honest, but sometimes it can do more harm than good. Facebook could turn into a place no one wants to be because they are judged and made to feel bad, where the online world is full of body image expectations, cyber bullying and mental well-being issues. 

​Whatever Facebook decides will represent the 'dislike' action, I hope it's not a simple 'thumbs down'. I don'nee'no'negativity! Empathy, yes, and I think the world would agree. 

**UPDATE** 21/10/15 ​http://www.wired.com/2015/10/facebook-reactions-design/_
Picture
Here's the latest on the issue.

See you on the next blog!

Lou x

Find me on Facebook (you're not able to 'dislike' me...yet!)
...and on Twitter
Born to be a Tourist
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Author

    I'm a writer based in South Wales, with an unhealthy obsession with stationery and baking. I mainly blog for my own sanity, but I'm also working on a novel. Still. 

    Archives

    November 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    August 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    May 2017
    April 2017
    August 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 1970

    Categories

    All
    April 2013 Blog Challenge
    Baking
    Being A Mum
    Blog Hop
    Books
    Campaigns / Charity
    Christmas
    Competitions
    Contemporary Fiction
    Craft
    Cycling
    Ebooks & Apps
    Environment
    Events
    #fail
    Films
    Fun Life Stuff!
    Gifted Reads
    Guest Bloggers
    Halloween
    Holiday Reads
    International Women's Day
    Lockdown
    My Wedding
    My Writing
    Out And About
    Poetry
    Random Inspiration
    Rant
    Reading
    Reviews
    Social Media
    Treasured Reader
    Wedding
    Well Being
    Well-being
    Women Writers
    Writing
    Writing Tips

    Get your own free Blogoversary button!

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.