Facebook users’ reviews have been mixed, with some embracing the move but others saying it makes them less likely to interact with a post. Jefferson Graham gets reaction to the new Facebook Reactions from consumers. These emojis will look the same around the world, but phrases such as “love” will be translated.
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“For more than a year we have been conducting global research including focus groups and surveys to determine what types of reactions people would want to use most”.
So now, with Reactions, “It will take more time from everyday life”. You’ll get the feature automatically on Web browsers, but you’ll need to update your app on iPhones and Android devices (no word yet on Windows and BlackBerry).
“We’ve been listening to people and know that there should be more ways to easily and quickly express how something you see in News Feed makes you feel”, said Facebook Product Manager Sammi Krug. You can get breakdowns for each reaction – the total and specific people. Maybe “sad” and “angry” cover some reasons why we might dislike something, but they aren’t the same as an option that allows you to say something straight-up sucks.
Facebook has a complex formula for deciding which of your friends’ posts are more prominent. Now, posts marked “angry” or “wow” will bump up, too.
With the angry discourse often associated with social media, I’m thrilled Facebook didn’t bring on more hate with the Dislike button. A company won’t be able to block the ability to mark its posts with anger.
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Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook has posted- “Excited that today we’re launching Reactions – an extension of the familiar Like button – so that everyone will have a wider range of ways to respond to stories”. But even if a few million people “Love” or laugh a few times a day, that’s still a lot of new, profit-driving data for Facebook and its advertisers.
