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Facebook is testing its downvote feature in New Zealand

The tool which aims to flag inappropriate comments is already being trialled in the US.
The tool which aims to flag inappropriate comments is already being trialled in the US. The tool which aims to flag inappropriate comments is already being trialled in the US.

Facebook is testing its Reddit-style “downvote” button in New Zealand.

The feature, which was being trialled in the US in February, is intended to be a way to flag comments deemed inappropriate on public posts.

Tapping the downvote button hides the comment for the user who taps it.

Facebook stock
Facebook stock (Niall Carson/PA)

The option is similar to the downvote feature on Reddit that reduces the visibility of unpopular posts.

Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian said he was “flattered” by the move.

The tech giant has said in the past that the feature is not a “dislike” button but rather one that enables “constructive” public discussions.

A spokesman told the BBC: “Our hope is that this feature will make it easier for us to create such spaces, by ranking the comments that readers believe deserve to rank highest, rather than the comments that get the strongest emotional reaction.”