Facebook launches reactions across the world. The long awaited development from the tech company has seen many people express themselves using different emoticons. Previously, users were only allowed to Like stuff even if it’s stupid or irrelevant.

Now, you can Haha, love, get surprised or feel angered on the platform.

In a video accompanying a blog post, the five new buttons appear as animated emoticons that pop up when the “Like” button is held down on mobile devices. The buttons appear on desktops when users hover over the “Like” button.
Facebook launched a pilot of “Reactions” – which allowed users to select from seven emotions including “Angry”, “Sad”, “Wow” and “Like” – in Ireland and Spain in October.

In the pilot project, Facebook had introduced the “Yay” reaction which is missing in the current group of emotions.
Social media platforms are influencing the way people think and interact. The available platforms are now creating employment opportunities for marketers and self proclaimed award winning bloggers. The same platforms give extremists an opportunity to exploit active users. However, these tech companies must get huge numbers to cement their resources and innovation must be implemented.

In Kenya, community based platforms are coming up to connect and create networking groups. A good example is Ujirani which promotes togetherness. Just like Facebook, Ujirani is a social network trying to get a wider coverage.
“People wanted to express empathy and make it comfortable to share a wider range of emotions,” Zuckerberg wrote on his Facebook page.

Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said in September the company was thinking of adding a “dislike” button, which spearheaded a debate over whether it would increase cyber bullying and negativity on the site. In October, the company said it would expand its signature “Like” button with various reactions.

The slow test and rollout of the expanded button – which Zuckerberg has said is the company’s biggest design change to date – is a marked change from Zuckerberg’s famous mantra, “move fast and break things.”