HYDERABAD: Facebook comments have always reflected a bi-polar user group with many asking if the social networking site would install a ‘dislike’ button. Seems now, this may soon become a reality. Riding on the popularity of its ‘Like’ button, Facebook is rumoured to be planning to give users a chance to showcase the opposite emotion with the ‘Hate’ button. The Like button, which is a social plugin, lets users share content with friends and is a popular way of connecting your Facebook page with the page you’ve liked.
According to Facebook’s S-1 filing, users are now generating 2.7 billion Likes and comments per day. With the Hate button, Facebook expects to at least double that. Many inside the company think the Hates could easily top that. Sources at Facebook say Mark is estimating 2 billion Hates on the first day.
“Facebook studies have shown the sad fact that people hate things on the Internet more than they like things. There’s also an internal debate on whether the new button should be called ‘Hate’ or ‘Dislike’,” reports a technology website. While the tech world is abuzz with speculation whether it is just a prank or reality, the verdict is that Facebook will see an increase in revenue if it decides to introduce the Hate button.
Responding to the speculation, a few youngsters from the city shared their opinion on the so-called ‘hate’ button on Facebook. While some ‘liked’ the idea, others ‘hated’ it.
Opines, Neelam Jain, a final year B.com student from the city, “I love the idea of a hate button on Facebook. It will actually display what I feel. Also, this option will be very helpful for companies who have a FB page for publicity. They will get to know where they stand and how good are their advertising skills.” Agreeing with Neelam was Deeksha Reddy, an architecture student from the city who seems to welcome this change with open arms. She says, “I think this will be a brilliant way of telling the world how much a post or photo sucks. When we are allowed to express admiration, we definitely should be allowed to show disgust.” While these people think that criticism is the road to improvement, Eeshan Reddy, a corporate sector employee, thinks that the hate button could be a fun factor. Ask him how, and he explains, “If Facebook launches a hate button, the focus will be more on that. People like their posts being liked by others but if a hate or dislike button comes, I am sure the focus will be more on that. But, I think it will be fun. This way online activities and posts will have more attention and it will be just like Youtube likes and dislikes.”
For some it may be fun, but for Abhishek Ponia, a regular Facebook user, a hate button is no joking matter. He says, “I’d once read that a girl in the USA committed suicide because she was bullied on FB and went into depression with people telling her how bad she was. So, I personally wouldn’t like to see a hate button. FB is a place which generally helps people be happy, whether through sharing thoughts, pictures or videos or anything of interest. The ‘Hate’ button could potentially sadden people and spread hatred. I believe that when you like something, let the person know and when you dislike something, you ignore it.” Echoing his views was Kamal Kiran, a re-insurance accountant and freelance photographer from the city, who is also completely against the hate button.
“There are many people who would hate a particular picture or status and I am sure they are just waiting to hit the hate button. But, I think this would create a negative vibe on the social media arena and it could have a backlash. FB should not have a hate button,” opines Kamal vehemently. Well, whether its a thumb’s up or a thumb’s down for the add-on, we will have to wait till Facebook announces the Hate button. Maybe, a ‘dislike’ button might take the bite off things, which is not too strong a word and seems to be a much better and healthier way to express one’s opinion.