Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced Tuesday that the social media giant is working on a dislike button, allowing users to give a “thumbs-down” to statuses, photos videos and other content in addition to the standard like or “thumbs-up,” already available on the site.

Zuckerberg said the company had been hesitant to launch a dislike button due to its potential for negativity on Facebook but realized users would use the button in a positive way.

We think this is a good way for Facebook users to interact on social media. When someone posts something sad or disappointing on Facebook, such as the death of a family member or a negative news story, users might want to express empathy or support but feel “liking” is awkward or insensitive.

The dislike button would allow users to show their support without making the poster think his or her friends like or approve of something negative. 

Zuckerberg made the announcement at a townhall-style question and answer session at Facebook’s headquarters. He said the feature is still in the production phase but will be ready to test soon. 

Users have been calling for a dislike button for years, and it’s about time that Facebook listened to its users and is working on this new feature.

The above editorial is the consensus opinion of The Kent Stater editorial board.