Twitter is experimenting with downvoting feature that allows users to flag the offensive, irrelevant tweet or replies. Initially, this feature is available to selected web users but the US-based microblogging company says that it will soon bring this feature of downvoting to iOS and Android users. Twitter has been testing feature and has shared few insights as why Twitter users preferred to downvote. In the simpler form, it is similar to the ‘Like’ and ‘Dislike’ feature on YouTube.
“A majority of our users shared that the reason they clicked the down arrow was either because the reply was perceived as offensive, or because they perceived it as not relevant, or both,” said Twitter.
This new Twitter feature could also be used to target the dissenting opinion as well. We have seen in the past the people target any person due to his/her identity, affiliation, religion, sex, culture, etc and mass troll them. The proposed downvoting could be little more problematic but it is still early days.
You can click on the dropdown menu of any tweet and flag it accordingly. Currently, you can mute, block or report any tweet or a Twitter user. You can also mark not interested if it does not suit your taste.
Twitter downvote adds another option to the users that might be rolled out soon. “This experiment also revealed that downvoting is the most frequently used way for people to flag content they don’t want to see.”
“Finally, people who have tested downvoting agree it improves the quality of conversations on Twitter. We’re excited to see how others think of it as it becomes available to more of you,” added Twitter.
