Facebook Quietly Expands Downvote Button Test for Comments

More Facebook users are noticing a new “downvote” arrow appearing on comments. This is a continuation of Meta’s private testing phase, similar to experiments previously seen on Instagram and Messenger.This feature appears alongside the usual “Like” and “Reply” actions. When tapped, it silently signals that a comment is unhelpful—there’s no public count or visible backlash. Facebook explains the downvote is meant to flag irrelevant, misleading, or off-topic remarks, helping their systems better moderate content behind the scenes .Some testers receive a prompt after downvoting, asking if the comment was offensive or irrelevant. This feedback isn’t visible to other users but provides Facebook’s algorithms with additional moderation data . Meta emphasizes that it’s not a dislike button—just a tool to reduce low-quality comments.The rollout seems regional and uneven. Reports indicate the downvote icon has appeared in countries like Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and parts of the U.S., but not for all users . On Reddit, some users noted the button vanished after a few days, suggesting Meta is experimenting with placement and timing .Social platforms have long debated the merits of negative feedback. Reddit-style voting systems can highlight relevance, but studies show negative votes may discourage engagement or polarize discussions . Facebook likely aims to gain moderation benefits without the stigma of a visible dislike feature.Meta’s latest move echoes past experiments. In 2018, Facebook tested a hidden downvote button under public page comments, then quietly rolled it back . Instagram also trialed a version in Stories and DMs earlier this year, gathering user reactions .Behind the scenes, Facebook’s goal seems to be improving user experience. By gathering anonymous input on comment quality, Meta might better suppress spam, misinformation, or toxic replies, promoting more meaningful interaction as part of its broader content strategy .At this stage, there’s no timeline for wider deployment—or removal—of the feature. Meta is likely analyzing data to determine whether the downvote tool helps reduce problematic content without negative side effects.Users encountering the downvote feature can tap it without fear of backlash—it’s private. It simply signals feedback to Facebook’s moderation systems. If the feature disappears, it likely means you’re no longer part of the ongoing test group.