Feb 9, 2018 - Technology

Facebook testing "downvote" button for comments

Sara Fischer

Facebook Like button — Brendan Smialowski / AFP / GettyImages

Facebook is gathering data to better assess what resonates with consumers through conversations on the platform. The "downvote" button is part of a short-term test that currently doesn’t affect ranking for the comment, the post or the page.

Why it matters: In an effort to create more meaningful engagement on its platform, Facebook wants to also emphasize meaningful interactions through comments.

What Facebook is saying: “We are not testing a dislike button. We are exploring a feature for people to give us feedback about comments on public page posts,” according to a Facebook spokesperson. “This is running for a small set of people in the U.S. only.”

The test is only running for 5% of Android users in the US and in English only.

The feature only applies to public page posts — not groups, public figures, or friend comments.

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Facebook testing "downvote" button for comments

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