3 Reasons Why Facebook Won't Introduce a "Dislike" Button

If you like something on Facebook, you can click a little button that says "like." This feature was introduced to allow users to give nearly thoughtless feedback to the posts, links, and videos of their friends and family members, and it's become so ubiquitous that the Facebook "like" regularly comes up in my conversations with friends.

Me: Did you see the New York Times article about the guys who beat kittens?
Friend: Oh, yeah, I 'liked' that.
Me: What? How could you like that?
Friend: No, I didn't like it, I liked it. Duh.

Clearly, the system has room for improvement, and one of the easiest ways to improve Facebook seems to be the addition of a Dislike button. There are tons of users calling out for a Dislike feature on Facebook, but one has yet to be introduced by the social networking giant.

So, where's our Dislike feature? Here are a few reasons why Facebook might be avoiding the Dislike button.

People Are Animals On The Internet. Facebook may be genuinely concerned for the mental well being of its users. While a dislike button seems like a fairly innocuous addition, it could take a lot of goodwill out of the website. Facebook enjoys a reputation as a true social network, and its fans love the low-pressure atmosphere. That's not to say that a dislike button would permanently ruin Facebook's atmosphere, just that it would be a step in the wrong direction.

They're Waiting To Roll It Out. Look, a dislike button isn't anything complicated--it's simple from a design point of view and it's obvious that Facebook users want it. Heck, Facebook already knows how easy it would be to put the button into place and have it working tomorrow--they'd just use the 'Like' button and add "Dis" to it. Maybe they're saving it, though. By metering out its upgrades and features, Facebook can keep users coming back. They might be saving the dislike button for a slow news day when they can capitalize on it as effectively as possible.

They're Afraid Of Complaints About Change. Every time something changes on Facebook's website, a hoard of users complain, no matter how slight the change. The new profiles are a great example of that; people will complain about anything, even if it's the exact same functionality that they'd embraced in the past. The dislike button may sound like a great idea to some users, but to others it might be unnecessary and even scary. Yes, that's right: Facebook users may have ruined the chances of a simple dislike button with their constant nagging.

Why do you think Facebook hasn't introduced a Dislike button? Post below.