Twitter to get rid of LIKE button – and users aren’t happy about it
CEO Jack Dorsey has said he doesn't like 'Likes' and wants to get rid of them "soon"
TWITTER is planning to get rid of its ‘Like’ button, according to comments made by its CEO Jack Dorsey.
The decision hasn’t yet been confirmed by the social network, but already fans have begun complaining online about the likely removal.
First reported in , Jack Dorsey revealed his intentions at a corporate Twitter event.
He admitted that he isn’t an admirer of the ‘Like’ feature, which is represented by a heart-shaped icon and lets Twitter users show their appreciation for tweets.
He explained that the social network would be getting rid of the feature “soon,” and even though he wasn’t specific about the date, Twitter users have already flocked to other social media sites to voice their annoyance.
“People are just gonna use retweets as likes even more, and my feed will be even more garbage,” one disgruntled person on Reddit.
Other users were similarly peeved, with another Reddit user pointing out that Jack Dorsey’s distaste for the Like button isn’t a reliable indicator of what regular Twitter users think.
“Twitter’s heart shaped like button is used by hundreds of millions of people every day, just look at the thousands of likes that popular brands get. Those are real people, using the tool,” he or she said.
The same user also noted that, in contrast to other social networks, Twitter appears to be removing rather than adding features.
Earlier in October, for example, the social network removed the ability to create Moments from its mobile app, while back in 2016 it shut down its Vine video-sharing platform.
However, there is no confirmation that Twitter will indeed be removing the Like feature.
A Twitter spokesperson said, “At this point, there is no specific timeline for changes or particular planned changes to discuss.”
And even if it does follow through with Dorsey’s statement of intent, previous comments from the CEO suggest that there may be a good reason for this.
On October 15, Dorsey spoke at the Wired 25th anniversary conference, explaining that, like Facebook, Twitter had played a big role in making political debate more tribal and divided.
“I think Twitter does contribute to filter bubbles, and I think that’s wrong of us, we need to fix it,” he said.
In this context, the removal of the Like feature could be a way of preventing Twitter users from bunching together according to their political biases.
It could also be a way of encouraging users to actually read and engage more with tweets, rather than simply ‘liking’ them and moving on.
“We’re experimenting and considering numerous possible changes, all with an eye toward ensuring we’re incentivising the right behaviors to drive healthy conversation,” explained the Twitter spokesperson.
What do you think Twitter can do to make online politics healthier? Let us know in the comments.
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