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sympathy via Shutterstock

Might Facebook add a ‘sympathise’ button?

Sometimes, ‘Like’ just doesn’t seem appropriate.

WHAT DO YOU do when a friend pays tribute to a deceased loved one by uploading a photo, or when your cousin complains of a bad day on her Facebook status?

Sometimes, it just feels weird to click “like” (someone’s aunt just died; you’re giving that a thumbs up?), so Facebook is toying with the idea of adding a “sympathise” button.

A developer recently introduced the idea for the button at a Facebook hackathon. The idea is to give users a way to acknowledge things without “liking” them, and apparently, everyone present at the event seemed really excited about the idea.

Here’s how it would work:

  • When you write a Facebook status, you have the option of choosing to share how you’re feeling from a drop down list of emotions.
  • If you selected a negative emotion like “depressed” from the list, the “like” button under your status would be relabelled “sympathise.”

But don’t start scanning your timelines for the button just yet. A Facebook engineer named Dan Muriello told The Huffington Post his colleague’s creation was “well-received by fellow Facebookers, but isn’t making its way to the site (for now)”.

- Caroline Moss

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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Marty Simpson
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    Apr 28th 2012, 8:22 PM

    I thought Westmeath was the Lake County?

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Barbara Skehill
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    Apr 28th 2012, 10:44 PM

    It is, Laois is the Queens county.

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    Mute Sian Feeney
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    Apr 29th 2012, 12:02 AM

    I was thinking, I don’t think there are many lakes in Laois, but Cavan and westmeath are chock a block.

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    Mute Ceiteach Mac Giollagáin
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    Apr 29th 2012, 12:59 AM

    Another figure would be nice on this list the actual number of houses liable for the household charge 1.75million approx. surely someone somewhere knows of the exact figure – It’s definitely more that 1.6m

    Anyway a nice figure for this list would be the percentage of the people of Donegal that haven’t registered for the household tax – 73%
    Over 60% in Carlow and Waterford and on we go….

    It would be nice if the media could be unbiased in its news coverage and state these figures for the benefit of the people. After all people are their business!!

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    Mute Jason Moore
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    Apr 29th 2012, 12:12 PM

    Can we have one article without people bringing up the government, household or water charges. #nationofmoanerslately

    3
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