Facebook testing a ‘Reactions’ button that lets you do way more than just Like

The quintessential ‘Like’ button has been the mainstay of the Facebook news feed experience. It proved to be a convenient and downright simple way to express appreciation for a post on the timeline. Over the years though, it has proved to be limiting. From elation to exasperation, the range of emotions and reactions that a post can evoke certainly warrant more than just a generic ‘Like’ thumbs up.

While users have been hankering for a ‘Dislike’ button, it appears Facebook has decided to do one better by offering a range of ‘reactions’ using emoticons. They have started testing this feature, which is an extension of the Like button that enables more ways for people to share a reaction to a post, such as awe, love, sorrow and empathy. To start, this feature will only be available to users in Ireland and Spain.

The addition of the reactions feature has deeper implications: by choosing to use a reaction versus a simple like, Facebook will interpret the post as being more important and relevant to the user, which will in turn determine visibility of related posts.

Page owners will now also be able to obtain clearer insights into the type of reaction a post or a product is having on their audiences, enabling them to better tailor digital marketing and product launch strategies.

The findings from this limited rollout trial will be used to tape out this feature to their wider audiences in due course.

See it in action: