Facebook Inc. has filed a new patent with the United States Patent and Trademark Office showing that a new "Dislike" button on the social network could include a tool to allow users to choose from a set of emoji icons for reacting to Internet content, such as on News Feed. The patent application's documents include a model like on the team collaboration tool Slack for Apple's iOS and Mac OS, or on the mobile messaging app WhatsApp.
The patent application was filed on March 23, and has a publication date of Dec. 23, 2014.
Facebook already has a large set of emojis. However, the patent reveals that the emoji-based button could have a small number of emoticons, perhaps to make the selection process easier, or to leave space for showing emoji icon counts on the Facebook interface, resembling the current one for Likes, according to Bidness Etc.
In a live-streamed Q&A session this week from the company's California headquarters, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed that there was a big demand for a Dislike button among Facebook users. This is because some people feel uneasy about clicking on the Like button during certain events, such as a tragic news story.
However, Zuckerberg stated that he wanted to avoid a Dislike button that would result in the social network becoming a forum in which users only vote up or down. He wanted them to have the ability to show "empathy," according to Mashable.
A thumbs-down Dislike button could have drawbacks. They include generating bad buzz for Hollywood TV shows or movies, or annoying or hurting others.
Giving Facebook users a spectrum of emoji icons to select from would allow them to show empathy and unity on the social network's News Feed. It would also add a touch of humor.
The Facebook Like button was launched in April 2010. A green thumbs-up, star, and heart con had also been considered.