If you’ve been living under or a rock or, more realistically, been avoiding logging onto Facebook to prevent further procrastination from midterms, then you may have missed Facebook’s latest update. In response to years of users calling for a ‘dislike’ option to complement the ‘like’ button, Facebook has finally responded by rolling out a whole new set of emojis you can use to describe your response to someone’s post. The new emojis, dubbed ‘Reactions’, include six different options and can be accessed by scrolling and hovering over the old ‘like’ button. While this update allows users to more openly express their feelings, many individuals are left wondering when they should use one ‘Reaction’ over another. In order to help those users out, 4E has created an Etiquette Guide to Using ‘Reactions.’
- Like: This is the same old button that Facebook users have grown to like since it was first introduced in early 2009. While it used to be appropriate to ‘like’ anything from a cute picture of a baby panda to that profound life status from an old grade school classmate, you should be warned to use this button sparingly.
Post to ‘like’: Your great Aunt Phyllis’s 1000th picture of her cats.
- Love: The ‘love’ button is a big step up from the ‘like’ button. Prior to its addition on Facebook, you probably used to casually scroll through your crush’s updates and try to inconspicuously ‘like’ a couple posts here and there. The new ‘love’ button is really a game changer as you can really show someone just how creepy and obsessive you really are.
Post to ‘love’: Any and all of your crush’s old posts and profile pictures from 2008 to 2010. This will not only show off your true stalking abilities, but will be a true sign of your love from him/her regardless of their old awkward photos. - Haha: Remember how you used to write ‘haha’ every time you thought a post was funny? If you’re suffering from sort of freak amnesia, scroll back to 2011 for reference (side note: you most likely also used the 😛 smiley during that time period). With this new reaction, actually typing ‘haha’ is now obsolete as its inclusion as a ‘Reaction’ was most likely due to the Millennials’ pure laziness…
Post to ‘haha’: ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING. Think that video of a dog running into a glass door is funny? ‘Haha’ it! And that really witty status that kid you haven’t since high school posted? ‘Haha it’! The ‘haha’ is definitely the most versatile new ‘Reaction’ so feel free to use it as obnoxiously as you see fit!
- Wow: Sometimes someone’s post on Facebook really just leaves you speechless. Whether that’s in a good or bad way, users have never actually had a way to accurately express such sentiment before now!
Post to ‘wow’: That ~profound~ political rant posted by that gov major who definitely thinks they’re the next Bill Clinton. - Sad: Sometimes Facebook posts are just sad, ya know? Clicking the like button to show your support was never really appropriate and sometimes commenting on a status for someone you didn’t really know was a little too awkward. The ‘sad’ button now allows users to demonstrate how a post might make them tear up just a little bit.
Post to ‘sad’: Any shared video about animal abuse set to a Sarah McLachlan song. While you’re at it, you might want to get the tissues ready too.
- Angry: Ever read a post that made you really fired up? Maybe you even posted your own status as a reaction to it. Either way, after a long time coming Facebook has finally introduced an ‘angry’ button which is arguably a step up from the ‘dislike’ button that so many people had previously requested.
Post to ‘angry’: ANY post that mentions Syracuse or Villanova and does not mention Georgetown’s superiority.
Photos/Gifs: assets-creativityonline.com, tumblr.com, giphy.com
