I literally said it this morning: I’m so tired of using the sad icon on Facebook.
There’s so much bad news: people dying of COVID-19, others fighting the virus, and others hit in the collateral damage of an economic collapse. You can’t just “like” a post with the standard thumbs-up when someone says her father is in a coma on a ventilator. And you can’t thumbs-up someone who says they’ve been out of work and don’t know where the next rent check is going to come from.
So Facebook’s announcement of a new hug icon is just in time.
Facebook’s new hug reaction, rolling out soon to a Facebook property near you.
Tough times are bringing out the best in people. I’ve noticed that neighbors are friendlier, from an appropriate distance. People on the street greet each other more frequently, while showing courtesy by crowding to the edges of sidewalks, or stepping onto the street to maintain six feet of separation.
Having a way to express that on Facebook is a very good thing.
It won’t fix actual problems, of course. It won’t cure COVID-19, or provide cash for those in need. But as a friend who replied with a heart reaction to my supportive comment on her post about challenges in work and life recently indicated, knowing we’re not alone helps.
Screenshot of a Facebook status update: So tired of using the sad reaction on Facebook.
Feeling like we’re all in this together makes the burden just a little lighter.
“With the crisis that we are going through right now, there is no doubt that people need more compassion, more support,” Facebook manager Fidji Simo told USA Today.
She’s right.
And it gives us one more small thing we can do to help each other get through the Coronavirus era.
The new reaction will be available today on Messenger and next week in the Facebook app. How long it stays there is another matter, probably dependent on usage.