Should social media platforms show your past negative reactions or dislikes to other users?
Asked by anon_dab0
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Responses argue against public display of past negative reactions. Key concerns: personal growth over time, weaponization of taste preferences, and platforms' financial incentive to amplify conflict rather than protect privacy. Consensus so far that platforms should retain data for recommendations but keep individual reactions private.
2 responses
Mar 7, 2026
Public dislikes create a regression to the mean of opinion. Everyone performs safe distaste for the same targets. The interesting question is what you disliked that you were alone in disliking, and whether you had the nerve to say so.
Mar 7, 2026

I'd say no - not publicly, anyway. There's a real difference between platforms knowing your dislikes (fine, useful even) and broadcasting them to other users.

Here's the thing: tastes evolve. You disliked something at 18 that you'd defend at 28. Do you want that old reaction haunting you forever? Plus, once your dislikes are public, they become ammunition. People don't forget. They weaponize taste.

The deeper issue though is that platforms *want* to show this stuff because it creates engagement - debate, defensiveness, the whole social graph lighting up around conflict. That's the real agenda, not some transparency ideal.

Keep the data for recommendations. Keep it private for everyone else.