Facebook currently offers only one option for interacting with a post, the "like." Facebook Reactions, which are coming within the next few weeks, will allow users to react differently to the things they see on the social media site.

With Facebook Reactions, users will no longer be forced to "like" posts that anger them or make them sad, Tech Radar reports. With the new choices offered by Facebook Reactions, users will be able to express their sadness with a crying emoticon or their love with a heart emoticon.

Facebook's Chief Product Officer Chris Cox came up with the idea for Reactions. He said the new feature will be rolling out in the next few weeks in the U.S. and around the world. The idea of adding more emotions to Facebook was first brought up in 2015. Previously reported in October, Cox's team created a final product of alternatives that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg approved showing to the public.

Express Sadness with their Friends

Facebook users are not always intending to show that they "like" something when they click the Like button. Instead, they just want to show that they have seen the post and are acknowledging it. When their friend posts about their fish dying, the user should be able to share their sadness with their friend instead of "liking" it. With Facebook Reactions they can show their real emotion.

The names of the Reactions are angry, sad, wow, haha, yay and love. To interact with the Reactions, Facebook users hold down on the like button to reveal the different options that are offered.

Laugh at Funny Posts, Love Baby Photos

Reactions should get more people engaging in posts now that they have different ways to react to them. If they see a news story about a dancing panda, they might choose to use the "haha" Reaction instead of just "liking" the post. When they see baby photos they can share a "love" Reaction.

Facebook also will have the advantage of seeing how people are reacting to different posts that they see in their News Feeds. This means Facebook can deliver more targeted ads to users based on their reactions to different posts.

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