Positive reaction to Facebook's new reactions

March 03, 2016, 5:04 PM GMT+0

A large majority of Facebook users approve of the new reactions, but simply having a 'like' and 'dislike' option is still their top choice

Facebook recently rolled out its new 'reactions', giving users an alternative to simply 'liking' someone's post or commenting underneath. Facebook users in some other countries, including Ireland and Spain, had been able to use the responses but now Americans will be able to quickly say 'haha' or 'angry' to a post.

YouGov's latest research shows that two-thirds of American Facebook users (66%) approve of the new reactions. Only 14% dislike them. Enthusiasm is limited, however, as while 42% 'somewhat approve' only 24% 'strongly approve'. Differences between demographic groups are limited, though disapproval is highest among over-65s (22%).

Despite the widespread approval of the new reactions system, reactions are not the top choice of Facebook users. Given the option of sticking with only 'like' buttons, adding a 'dislike' button or the new reactions, only 29% chose reactions. 43% including 48% of under-30s, say that they would have preferred to just have a 'like' and 'dislike' button. Only 15% wanted to stick with just a like button.

Regardless of the change, most American Facebook users expect the new reactions to have little or no impact on their experience of the service. 55% say that it will have no impact, while only 9% say that reactions will be 'much better' and only 3% say that they will be 'much worse'.

Full poll results can be found here and topline results and margin of error here.