Facebook is testing a button that would let users \u201cdownvote\u201d other people\u2019s comments on public posts.<\/p>\n
The button, which simply says “Downvote,” appears to the right of “Like” and “Reply” options below a comment. The button is intended to notify Facebook about uncivil or misleading comments. The world\u2019s largest social network is testing it in the short-term for a small percentage of US users, and it currently doesn\u2019t affect how prominently a post is featured in a list of comments, a company representative said.<\/p>\n
A wider implementation of the button would go against Facebook\u2019s prior stance that any kind of downvote or dislike button would spread negativity on the site. In a rethinking of the “Like” button in 2016, for example, the social network added a slate of other reactions, including “Love” and “Sad,” meant to be emotions in response to a post, rather than judgments on the post\u2019s ranking.<\/p>\n
The test was reported earlier by the Daily Beast. The feature is similar to one in use on the online bulletin board Reddit.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are not testing a dislike button,\u201d the company said in a statement. \u201cWe are exploring a feature for people to give us feedback about comments on public page posts.\u201d<\/p>\n