Elon Musk-owned X (formerly Twitter) is reportedly working on introducing a dislike button to the platform, to improve the ranking of replies.
This new feature aims to give users a way to express disapproval or disagreement with tweets, adding another dimension to the platform’s interaction options.
The dislike button, still in the development phase, is expected to be placed alongside existing features such as like, reply, and retweet features, providing users with a broader range of reactions to posts they encounter.
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Although X has not yet officially announced its plans for roll-out, findings suggest that the downvote feature may resemble a dislike button instead of a Reddit-style downvote icon, Techcrunch reported.
In screenshots shared by reverse engineer Aaron Perris @aaronp613 on X, it revealed that the app now includes several newly added references to a downvoting function as well as strings of text that ask the user to take action and confirm their downvote. For example, one reads, “Do you want to downvote this post?”, while another simply instructs the user to “Downvote this post”.
It is however worth noting that the Dislike button is not a common feature seen on social media platforms. However, netizens have wished for a dislike button to exist. Musk who is known for his astute nature, seems to have put it into consideration by introducing the feature on the X platform.
However, X’s experimentation with a downvoting feature isn’t new to the platform, as it initially tested both the upvoting and downvoting buttons in 2021, before Musk’s acquisitions.
By incorporating a dislike button, Musk seeks to create a more balanced feedback system, allowing users to indicate not only what they like, but also what they dislike. This feature could potentially lead to more constructive discussions and help in filtering out low-quality content on the platform.
Recall that in June this year, Musk announced plans to make “likes” private on the social network, in a change that could potentially confuse users over the difference between something they’ve favorited and something they’ve bookmarked.
According to employees at X, the decision to hide likes is meant to incentivize engagement, by allowing people to favorite content that seems “edgy” and to protect their public image.
Furthermore, users will no longer be able to see the likes associated with other people’s posts nor will they be able to browse someone’s likes through a tab on their profile. This could help to eliminate the snooping others do, but it also removes a useful discovery feature.
As X continues to evolve under its new identity, the addition of a dislike button reflects its commitment to adapting and responding to user needs. The platform aims to foster a more dynamic and interactive environment, ensuring that users have multiple ways to express their opinions and engage with the content they see.