Facebook tests 'downvote' option for flagging abusive comments

FILE - In this Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018, file photo, a man demonstrates how he enters his Facebook page as he works on his computer at a restaurant in Brasilia, Brazil. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres, File) (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Facebook is testing a new feature to let you quickly report abusive comments to the company.

On Thursday, a mysterious option called "downvote" began to appear over the platform. Only a select number of test users have access to it, but the function is found on any comment made on public page posts.

Despite the name, the function is nothing like Reddit's own downvoting option, which can demote questionable content further down the comment section. Facebook's own spin on the downvoting is more about flagging down inappropriate or offensive posts.

Currently, a user can report an abusive comment over the platform by clicking on the "..." next to it and selecting "Hide comment." Facebook will then let you alert the company about the post, but the whole process isn't exactly intuitive.

In contrast, the company's downvoting feature gives you a clearer avenue to complain about a comment. Once clicked, the option will automatically hide the comment from view and ask why you had a problem with it. Four answers are given including offensive, misleading, off topic and other.

Still, Facebook created some confusion with the test feature by naming it "downvote." This prompted speculation that the company was about to take a page from Reddit and implement actual comment downvoting.

Facebook stressed the function is nothing akin to a dislike button.

"We are not testing a dislike button," the company said in an email. "We are exploring a feature for people to give us feedback about comments on public page posts."

Christina Hudler, who lives in Jacksonville, North Carolina, was among the Facebook users who noticed the mysterious feature pop up on Thursday. She too thought the test feature was similar to Reddit's downvoting function.

This article originally appeared on PCMag.com.