The awkward semantics of Facebook reactions

Facebook originally had a single reaction feature, like, which was updated in 2016 with five other options, and again 2020 sixth. The intended meanings of these features remains unclear: they are both constrained expressive range potentially confused one another. This study examines the distribution reactions across seven samples posts to evaluate their potential assess comparability contexts, terms three current approaches interpreting social media meanings: engagement, sentiment, face-work. reactions’ is complex unstable available aggregate data does not reveal face-work patterns otherwise readily observable. In conclusion, cautions offered regarding quantitative analyses features.