Facebook Tests Reddit-Like 'Downvote' Feature for Disliking User Comments

[dragicon]

I wonder if anything can stop that ship from sinking.

Let's hope nothing can.

 

[mtneer]

Facebook cannot assume that only the "good guys" will use the downvote to push bad things down. Once this feature rolls out, then it will be weaponized by bots and trolls of all shades to go after voices they don't like. So, if anything it can stir up an arms race of negativity on Facebook.

 

[trip1ex]

Downvotes only tell you how unpopular something is by those reading it.

Doesn’t tell you whether or not that person is making no sense or a lot of sense.

 

[skellener]

Because copying other sites works out so well >cough<digg>cough<.....

 

[TheRealTVGuy]

My biggest gripe with Facebook is that it's basically designed to dumb down any conversation and turn you into an advertisement-consumer-scrolling-zombie.

My biggest gripe is that cute college-age girls don’t use Facebook anymore, and I’m not sure if I have time to mess with SnapChat, Instagram, Musically, and the like...

 

[Jayderek]

Facebook can keep trying these small new features, but until they give people an option to view their timelines in order without it being curated I just don't care about that platform.

 

[AlumaMac]

The benefit of having an up/down vote in addition to being able to respond is someone who mildly disagrees can downvote without having to write out a post that consists of "I disagree".

But simply clicking a down vote button as an expression of "I disagree" adds nothing to the conversation nor encourages any kind of intellectual debate. It turns the discussion into a popularity contest vs actual discourse, imho.
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Facebook can keep trying these small new features, but until they give people an option to view their timelines in order without it being curated I just don't care about that platform.

Yep, I follow a local bakery on Instagram (it has curated feeds as well) that posts their specials for each day. Yesterday, their post showed up in my feed and I saw something I liked so I headed out the door since they sell out quick. While sitting in my car, I checked the post again, and sure enough it was a post from 2 days before. Not really sure how that is helpful.

 

[coolfactor]

They're tried it in the past and never gone with it. It's too negative and doesn't foster good interactions. I don't see them going forward with it this time either.

I think downvoting is important to send a strong message to certain posters that their comments are inappropriate and not welcome. We need a way to self-police our forums, so this is good. There's way too much immaturity and rudeness out there.

 

[Wide opeN]

I remember when Mac Rumors use to have a downvote feature.

They need to bring it back!!!

 

[Andronicus]

I’d rather be reading than spending my time downvoting or thumbs upping. That said I like the thumbs up feature but if I added up all the time I spent doing that I could have read a lot. Though I imagine the encouragement some users get from positive reviews may encourage even more communication / posts. Thumbs down does the opposite.

Like this. I wish I could downvote this.

just joshin’ ya, bud.

 

[rhett7660]

I remember when Mac Rumors use to have a downvote feature.

Me too and boy that was a fun time!