TikTok Looks To Add Dislike Button for Comments — Is This a Good Idea?

TikTok is developing a way for people to identify negative comments.

The company recently announced it is currently testing a feature that allows users to dislike a comment they think is irrelevant or inappropriate. This feature may be coming in the form of a dislike button for comments, per Engadget.

It is unclear when TikTok will release the feature to the public.

TikTok Comment Dislike Button Details

According to TikTok's announcement, the feature it is testing is part of its effort in exploring new ways to help the TikTok community to feel more in control over comments.

Additionally, TikTok expects the addition of a dislike button will generate community feedback that will add to the range of factors already used to help keep the comment section of the short videos hosted on its platform "consistently relevant and a place for genuine engagement."

TikTok assures users that the person who disliked a comment will be the only one who can see that they did so to avoid creating ill-feeling between community members or demoralizing creators. This statement means that you're the only one who would know you disliked a particular comment.

Engadget reported in its article that some users who are part of the feature's testing program shared screenshots on Twitter of a comment section with a thumbs down icon placed at the right side of the "heart" icon or like button.

This thumbs down icon is said to be the dislike button, per Twitter user @iniyaspip. However, They voiced their concern about the button's aesthetics in the comment section, saying that it makes the comment section look messy, in their opinion.

TikTok has not disclosed when this new dislike button for comments will be available for users.

New Safety Reminders for Creators

Tiktok is also experimenting with reminders that would help guide content creators with its comment filtering and the option of blocking and deleting user accounts and comments by bulk, respectively. These reminders will be shown to those who appear to receive a proportionably high amount of negative comments to help them manage the comment section in their videos.

As the company is still evaluating these reminders, it mentioned it would release an update about them in the coming weeks, along with its decision if it would make the reminders available to users.

The Never-Ending Struggle

TikTok mentioned in its latest enforcement report that it has removed 10.9% of content marked for hateful behavior, 16.2% for violent extremism, 14.7% for content meant to harass and bully others, and 7.7% for suicide, self-harm, and dangerous acts.

These enforcement reports are part of TikTok's efforts to provide transparency regarding information about content removals and ongoing improvements to its systems that detect, flag, and remove violative content in some cases.

"There's no finish line when it comes to keeping people safe, and our latest report and continued safety improvements reflect our ongoing commitment to the safety and well-being of our community," TikTok said in its announcement. "We look forward to sharing more about our ongoing work to safeguard our platform."