Facebook is working on a "dislike" button. But it won't do what you think.

Facebook has had a "like" button for years so users could express approval of a link or status update. But there isn't a button to press when your friends are sharing bad news.

That might change soon, according to CEO Mark Zuckerberg. At an event at Facebook headquarters, Zuckerberg said the company is currently working on a "dislike" button.

But don't expect the "dislike" button to work like the downvote button on sites such as Reddit. On Reddit, the upvote and downvote buttons are opposites: Upvoting gives the post more attention, while downvoting can consign it to oblivion.

By contrast, Facebook won't treat a "dislike" as a vote to stop showing the post to other users. Rather, it provides a better option in cases where friends and family paste bad news, like a death in the family or a natural disaster. "What they really want is the ability to express empathy," wrote Business Insider. "Not every moment is a good moment."

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