Twitter announces it is testing a downvote feature to see how it will affect the platform

Twitter is testing a downvote feature via a handful of iOS users, the platform announced Wednesday.

“Some of you on iOS may see different options to up or down vote on replies. We’re testing this to understand the types of replies you find relevant in a convo, so we can work on ways to show more of them. Your downvotes aren’t public, while your upvotes will be shown as likes,” Twitter said in a tweet.

On social media, many called the new feature a way to give users a “dislike” button. But Twitter said that’s not quite the purpose of this test. In a statement to NBC News, Twitter said testing the up- and downvote feature is a way for the platform to try to understand if they’re showing people the best replies for them in a conversation.

“So, we’re running a small research experiment to learn what replies people find most relevant during conversations on Twitter,” a Twitter spokesperson said in an email. “We are hoping to better understand what people believe are relevant replies and how that matches up to what Twitter suggests as the most relevant replies under a Tweet” [NBC].

MANAGING EDITOR: CARSON CHOATE
PHOTO CREDITS: YAHOO NEWS

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