Would you like a “Dislike” button on Facebook?
ABC’s Diane Sawyer sat down with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg to chat about the site registering its 500 millionth (!) account, what it’s like to work at Facebook and what Zuckerberg thinks about the upcoming movie about him. In this video clip, however, he answers some user questions — including one that addresses the possibility of a “Dislike” button. Think it’s a good idea?
Here’s the video interview, where Diane Sawyer told Mark Zuckerberg the second most asked question from viewers – behind “Will the site always be free?” Answer: yes.
The question is “Would you consider adding a ‘Dislike’ button to Facebook?” Zuckerberg said he’s been asked this before and he would consider it.
As you likely know, Facebook users can click if they “Like” something on a friend’s profile page, such as a status update, photo, wall post or other content.
But would you click “Dislike” on something a friend or collegue posted? Really? Would you be concerned you might offend the person?
Or, perhaps you can click “Dislike” if you buddy posts a video about, I dunno, how seal clubbing is in fashion again, and you can say you “dislike” that. I dunno.
What are your thoughts on this? Do you like the way Zuckerberg handled the question?
Filed Under: Facebook > Found on the Web > My Online Life > Online Video > Social Media > Social Networking > Web 2.0
Tags: abc, button, click, diane, dislike button, Facebook, like, mark, News, page, profile, sawyer, zuckerberg

re: a dislike button…
I don’t think it is such a good idea. It opens the door for people to be mean and malicious towards one another.
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I wouldn’t think it’d matter that much though. If someone decides to be malicious to someone else, then that person could just tell them to stop and if it continued, then unfriend them.
Plus one wouldn’t honestly be malicious to people they consider their friends in real life. That aside, ‘dislikes’ for any reason other than honestly disliking material for its actual content would just be interpreted as friendly jabs by those people in relation.
Not that i’m necessarily for this idea, i’m not necessarily against it either.
The ‘like’ button concept is already lame, juvenile and shallow as it is and no one’s thinking of getting rid of it so i say who cares.
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In agreement with your response Dryv, After all, if my brother who (may or may not be on facebook) & ( using Marc’s example), “clubbing seals” I would send him a message telling him that I find his postings offensive. I don’t need a button for that.
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I would privately communicate with my brother that I do/don’t share/support his interest in clubbing baby seals.
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If you are one of the 500 million losers who use FB, then chances are you not likely to be offended when your friends tell you some of the content on your facepage is stupid. I mean, these people are so thick, they actually think that other people want to know or even care what they’re doing. Please. Here’s an idea: go out and get jobs why don’t ya??!!
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Really?
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And some people are so thick they think that all Facebook 500 million users are unemployed losers, as opposed to, oh i don’t know, avererage everyday people who want to maybe stay in touch with people or share photos with family and friends without hassle.
I mean, these people are so thick, they actually think that other people want to know or even care what they think.
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Assumptions, assumptions, and more assumptions. You have a lot of opinions about FB users and a whole lot of anger too. This topic of discussion is not terribly controversial, but you somehow manage to use an exclamation mark.
I use FB, I have an excellent job and a PhD. I travel the world and have friends in several countries. I like to know what they are up to, no matter how trivial it may seem. And yes, we also use the phone to communicate. Obviously 500 million people feel the same way.
I will mark your comment with a “dislike”.
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Yes, but so can the ‘like’ button.
Ex. Status: My dog just died
Person ‘likes’ this.
Tada.
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Very cute Heather (((Tada))) =8>)
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Dislike
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Not to make this sound like an attack on you or your comment, but I don’t understand how a dislike button would “opens the door for people to be mean and malicious towards one another”.
I could just as easily write a comment with the word “dislike”, as many do. and in fact, i could write a comment that says “you’re stupid and I hate you” or “you have no friends, go die”. I’m not the kind of person who would say that to someone, but with the current ability to comment on a person’s activity, I COULD do it. And I think that’s much more mean and malicious than a dislike button.
Just my thought.
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I agree with John. A ‘dislike’ button would do more harm than good. Being new to Facebook, I would like to know if there is any way I can delete some of my own postings??
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To remove a posting, go to your wall and then move your cursor over the post. A “Remove” button should appear, click it and your post will be deleted. Hope this helps.
I would like one mainly because on articles, you can only like them. I found articles that I “dislike” and would like to show it on Facebook. However I would not like a “dislike” button for posts by friends or groups you join.
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move the arrow beside your post that u want to delete a little x will appear click it and the post is gone
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ye3s yes yes
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I agree with John and Roxanne.If you disagree with the comment,ignore it or rebut it politely.In our twitter obsessed world,we boil every thought,opinion or comment down to one liners or one word.If a thought can be expressed in two words,it isn’t worth expressing.
I have a problem with Facebook’s option of clicking “like”.If a close friend posts a message such as “I have been diagnosed with a fatal illness but my father just died and left me his estate and I’m going to Hawaii” is “like” an appropriate response.
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I don’t think any sane person would willingly disclose something like that online for all to see…
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First off let’s look at the site. People it’s for 14 year olds……will you be my friend, won’t you be my friend….come on…who cares. And the games that are on there are like SPAM. All the addons that WANT you personal information to work…..not needed. There is no legitimate software that I have on my PC that wants to GET my personal information, so the extra apps don’t need it.
It should give you the option of like or dislike something. Personally if someone put on their facebook that they liked seal hunting, I would put like! If someone doesn’t like that I put that, put dislike……it will create discussion and that is good for everyone.
I actually don’t care if people like or don’t like something, it’s my thoughts.
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I agree with Murray M & really who cares? These are issues that people are actually concerned with? Time to get back to reality & a real life.
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ahh, but see, you’re here and spending your time reading and commenting, so I’m just going to assume that YOU care.
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The place where we need a dislike button is on the things that Facebook puts up on its’ own.Those boxes on the side.
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I’ve wanted a dislike button ever since jumping on the bandwagon about a year ago. I’m not concerned about offending people – I’m more concerned about being restricted to a single reaction: “like”. I do like lots of stuff I see posted, but there have been several instances strongly deserving of a “dislike”. I realize that negativity isn’t the best response, but it’s a part of human nature – why shouldn’t we be allowed to express it?
It’s even more vital as 3rd party sites like Sympatico start to add the like button function to their content. It becomes a voting button of sorts. If I see an article (for instance) about violent G20 protestors being given light or no sentences, I want to show my disapproval using a “dislike” button.
It might even spur more people to take an interest in an issue and possibly take action. So you could say that a negative option such as “dislike” could yield some very positive results that we would all “like”
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Dislike allows me to agree with something bad, like when a mate posts, “Another soldier from our Regiment was killed in Afghanistan today.”
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I think its a good idea. I will be able to say what I think when I read something that shouldnt be posted.
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A dislike button is useful for “bad” statuses. Example: “having a bad day at work”. It seems strange to “like” that, but of course you’d dislike if your friend is having a bad day.
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The heck with the “dislike” button. Why not improve the chat program. It been over a year and it still the same crappy system, that drops messages, or make people seem to log off, but in reality they are still there. They should concentrate on fix something like that then add another button
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Like
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if u dont like something just dont comment its that simple and yes facebook has quite a few flawes that should be fixed before they start adding any new features
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Can I “dislike” your article and your inability to spell common words? The word is ‘colleague’ – hope I didn’t offend you…
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I LOVE the idea of a dislike button. I can’t wait to put it in use.
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I would love to see a dislike button as long as it is anonymous. Some people I know post way too much crap that really no one wants or needs to hear but of course no one will say anything because they don’t want to offend a friend or family member. If I was posting things and I keep seeing people dislike it, I would rethink what I was posting.
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We have enough negativity in the world…No !! (did i spelt that rite)
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A dislike button is much wanted. There are so many groups and fan pages for it.
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Who cares? Facebook is a total waste of time and life anyway
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I would like Facebook to add a dislike button. I wouldn’t worry about offending someone by hitting the dislike button. Usually if someone posts something about a crappy day they had or something I would wish there was a dislike button. There’s a “like” button so why shouldn’t there be a “dislike” button.
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