Facebook will soon feature ‘Reactions’, a range of responses which will sit alongside the traditional ‘like’ function, according to media reports.
Since its launch, Facebook users have just been able to ‘like’ pictures, posts and pages published on the site. But they will now be able to react more accurately using Reactions, which include “sad”, “angry”, “love” and “wow”.
Facebook announced the move yesterday after the company announced its full-year financial results, which revealed a 44% year-on-year jump in revenues to just under $18 billion.
“You can love something, you can be sad about something, you can laugh out loud at something,” said Chris Cox, Facebook’s chief product officer. “We know on phones people don’t like to use keyboards, and we also know that the like button does not always let you say what you want.”
It is thought the Reactions will quell the demand for a ‘dislike’ button, which Facebook has never launched for fear it might be abused.
Will you like Facebook's new Reactions? https://t.co/DOzSWrIPFN
— BBC Business (@BBCBusiness) January 28, 2016
Facebook has been testing the new emoticons in six different markets, including Ireland and Spain. One Reaction, the ‘yay’ button, was scrapped because it “was not universally understood”, according to a Facebook spokesperson.
Each Reaction has a corresponding picture, none of which have not been changed since the initial launch.
The images have prompted some mocking comparisons on Twitter.
With Facebook introducing Reactions I think it's time to roll out Fine Art Emojis. L to R: OMG, Sad Face, LOL pic.twitter.com/d7rdcQPpPt
— Tom Sutcliffe (@tds153) January 28, 2016
The company has not confirmed the exact date when Reactions will be available, but said it will be “in the next few weeks.”
Edited by Max Burnell