How do I use Facebook’s new Reactions?

“My Grandfather passed away, it’s going to be a rough summer.”
Imagine coming across this status while scrolling through your Facebook Newsfeed. As humans, we all want to support our friends in need. But – would you “like” it? That has been the dilemma for Facebook users for a long, long time.

Liking a post about your friend’s tough time has always seemed pretty inappropriate. Although users have asked for years, Facebook never added a “dislike” button. Turns out – it has something better. Reactions. You can now either like a post, or choose from the other 5 reactions. Love, Wow, Haha, Sad or Angry.

But learning all this can be cumbersome. In fact, without really looking you wouldn’t even know this feature exists. That’s where Awesome Canada’s guide to Reactions comes in! We’ve learned all about them, and have made a guide simple enough that your 4 year old son will be able to master the new art of Facebook Reactions.

How to use  Facebook’s new reactions

We presume you have a Facebook account (because you do). First open the Facebook app if on your smartphone; or a new tab, if on a computer. You’ll learn twice as fast if you do it along with us. If on your app, make sure it is up-to-date.

1. Focus on a post in your newsfeed: After you login to your account, find a post you want to add a reaction to. Let us say, you see a Donald Trump meme.

2. React to it: Do a long press on your like button when using a touchscreen device. As you’ve got your finger pressed, you’ll see the other 5 reactions. Keep your finger pressed, and swipe your finger over the reaction you wish to post. Then remove your finger,  Ta-da, you’re done.

                    If on a PC, do this: Move the pointer over the like button. Keep it there for a moment. You’ll see the                               reactions jump out. Select the one you want and click it.

Who Benefits?

Facebook’s new reactions offer a lot to users as you can now express yourself more than ever. Surprise though, it’s not only users that get to eat the pie. Marketers and advertisers have their mouth dripping at the possibilities of the new reactions. They can know their users inside out, knowing which content works, and which doesn’t. It is not necessarily a bad thing, within reasonable limits. Now go ahead and get reacting.