Facebook users across the world have an entirely new way to react to statuses.
On Wednesday morning, the social networking site unveiled its new Reactions feature, which gives users a few more ways to react to a friend's Facebook status, post or photo. When users place their mouse over the Like option, six emoticons also pop up one for Like, Love, Haha, Wow, Sad and Angry to help users more accurately express how they feel about a status.
Every day, people come to Facebook to discover whats happening in their world and around the world, and to share all kinds of things, whether thats updates that are happy, sad, funny or thought-provoking, Facebook product manager Sammi Krug wrote in a statement. Thats why today we are launching Reactions, an extension of the Like button, to give you more ways to share your reaction to a post in a quick and easy way.
These Reactions may be new to the common Facebook user, but the social network has been testing them for more than a year in select markets, Krug wrote.
In fact, the concept of these reactions has been in development for more than a year. As I wrote about last October, Facebook decided on this new feature after receiving plenty of support for a Dislike button. But Mark Zuckerbergs global social network decided to use Reactions instead after reviewing Facebook user data and finding that specific emojis like hearts, laughing faces and teary sad faces were some of the most popular expressions used on the site.
Hearts were everywhere, Adam Mosseri, head of the Facebook news feed, told Bloomberg. Sometimes it was heart eyes. Sometimes it was a heart beating out of a chest.
These new Reactions can take some getting used to. Instead of just clicking "Like," users will now have to consciously think about which expression best shows their emotion. And though it does give Facebook a fresh new look, some users could find the new choices confusing or unhelpful, CNN reported.
To test your skills, here are 12 Facebook statuses weve created that youre likely to see on Facebook. Choose the corresponding Facebook emoticons that you think are the best match.
The baby announcement
Use: Like, Love, Wow
Dont use: Haha, Sad, Angry
Show your support for the mother or father to be.
The travel plans
Use: Like, Love, Haha, Wow
Dont Use: Angry
Optional: Sad
Clearly, this user is excited to see her child again. It doesn't hurt to show her your support.
The sports guy
Use: Like, Love, Wow
Dont Use: Haha, Angry, Sad
This user just accomplished something huge. Give him the pat on the back he needs.
RIP
Use: Love, Sad
Dont Use: Like, Haha, Wow
Optional: Angry
Show your sympathy for this user who just lost her family member.
News event
Use: Like, Love, Angry
Dont Use: None
Optional: Haha, Wow, Sad
How you respond to this depends entirely on how you feel about the specific news event.
The motivational quote
Use: Like, Love, Wow
Dont Use: Haha, Angry, Sad
If you like the quote, show that you do. If not, then dont.
The song lyrics
Use: Like, Love, Haha, Wow, Sad
Dont Use: None
Optional: Angry
Only React positively to this if you enjoy seeing song lyrics that were popular in 2004.
The political statement
Use: Like, Love, Haha, Wow
Dont Use: Angry, Sad
This all depends on your politics but it's probably best not to engage in political Facebook warfare.
The drama queen
Use: Haha, Wow, Sad
Dont Use: Like, Love, Angry
Sometimes its best not to feed into the drama.
The confused person
Use: Comment
Dont Use: Love, Haha, Wow, Sad, Angry
Optional: Like
Itd probably be best for you to just explain what happened to your friend in the comment section.
The sports fan
Use: Like, Love, Angry, Sad (depending on how much you love the Red Sox)
Dont Use: Haha, Wow
If youre going to engage with a sports status, you may want to show your fandom or check it at the door.
The loved ones
Use: Like, Love
Dont Use: Wow, Sad, Angry
Optional: Haha
For these type of statuses, an old adage proves true: spread love.
On Wednesday morning, the social networking site unveiled its new Reactions feature, which gives users a few more ways to react to a friend's Facebook status, post or photo. When users place their mouse over the Like option, six emoticons also pop up one for Like, Love, Haha, Wow, Sad and Angry to help users more accurately express how they feel about a status.
Every day, people come to Facebook to discover whats happening in their world and around the world, and to share all kinds of things, whether thats updates that are happy, sad, funny or thought-provoking, Facebook product manager Sammi Krug wrote in a statement. Thats why today we are launching Reactions, an extension of the Like button, to give you more ways to share your reaction to a post in a quick and easy way.
These Reactions may be new to the common Facebook user, but the social network has been testing them for more than a year in select markets, Krug wrote.
In fact, the concept of these reactions has been in development for more than a year. As I wrote about last October, Facebook decided on this new feature after receiving plenty of support for a Dislike button. But Mark Zuckerbergs global social network decided to use Reactions instead after reviewing Facebook user data and finding that specific emojis like hearts, laughing faces and teary sad faces were some of the most popular expressions used on the site.
Hearts were everywhere, Adam Mosseri, head of the Facebook news feed, told Bloomberg. Sometimes it was heart eyes. Sometimes it was a heart beating out of a chest.
These new Reactions can take some getting used to. Instead of just clicking "Like," users will now have to consciously think about which expression best shows their emotion. And though it does give Facebook a fresh new look, some users could find the new choices confusing or unhelpful, CNN reported.
To test your skills, here are 12 Facebook statuses weve created that youre likely to see on Facebook. Choose the corresponding Facebook emoticons that you think are the best match.
The baby announcement
Use: Like, Love, Wow
Dont use: Haha, Sad, Angry
Show your support for the mother or father to be.
The travel plans
Use: Like, Love, Haha, Wow
Dont Use: Angry
Optional: Sad
Clearly, this user is excited to see her child again. It doesn't hurt to show her your support.
The sports guy
Use: Like, Love, Wow
Dont Use: Haha, Angry, Sad
This user just accomplished something huge. Give him the pat on the back he needs.
RIP
Use: Love, Sad
Dont Use: Like, Haha, Wow
Optional: Angry
Show your sympathy for this user who just lost her family member.
News event
Use: Like, Love, Angry
Dont Use: None
Optional: Haha, Wow, Sad
How you respond to this depends entirely on how you feel about the specific news event.
The motivational quote
Use: Like, Love, Wow
Dont Use: Haha, Angry, Sad
If you like the quote, show that you do. If not, then dont.
The song lyrics
Use: Like, Love, Haha, Wow, Sad
Dont Use: None
Optional: Angry
Only React positively to this if you enjoy seeing song lyrics that were popular in 2004.
The political statement
Use: Like, Love, Haha, Wow
Dont Use: Angry, Sad
This all depends on your politics but it's probably best not to engage in political Facebook warfare.
The drama queen
Use: Haha, Wow, Sad
Dont Use: Like, Love, Angry
Sometimes its best not to feed into the drama.
The confused person
Use: Comment
Dont Use: Love, Haha, Wow, Sad, Angry
Optional: Like
Itd probably be best for you to just explain what happened to your friend in the comment section.
The sports fan
Use: Like, Love, Angry, Sad (depending on how much you love the Red Sox)
Dont Use: Haha, Wow
If youre going to engage with a sports status, you may want to show your fandom or check it at the door.
The loved ones
Use: Like, Love
Dont Use: Wow, Sad, Angry
Optional: Haha
For these type of statuses, an old adage proves true: spread love.