Facebook has confirmed that is testing downvote button to flag inappropriate comments to hide them. Since it is a testing phase, it is only available to a limited set of public Page post comment reels according to TechCrunch.
According to Facebook’s Spokesperson, the aim of the downvote button is to create a way for users to provide a signal to Facebook about a comment is inappropriate, uncivil, or misleading. The company clarifies that it is not a Dislike button, instead, it is a way of users giving the feedback about comments on public page posts.
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When a user taps the downvote button, it will hide the comment and gives users additional reporting options like “Offensive”, “Misleading”, and “Off Topic”. This will give Facebook a chance to review the comment to see the comment if it is objectionable, a form of “fake news” or irrelevant. Though Facebook has hide button, it is hidden behind the drop-down arrow, while the downvote is present right beside the like, comment buttons.
Facebook further adds that it is a temporary testing and doesn’t affect the ranking of the comment, post, or Page and it is designed as a way to give feedback to Facebook. The company is testing it on 5% of Android users in the U.S. with the language set to English and only appears on public Page posts, not on posts by Groups, public figures or users.
Commenting on the same, Facebook Spokesperson said:
We are not testing a dislike button. We are exploring a feature for people to give us feedback about comments on public page posts. This is running for a small set of people in the U.S. only.