Houston: Facebook is considering giving its users a less cheery alternative to the ‘like’ option: a ‘sympathise’ button.

Many people come across a sad status update from a friend while browsing the popular social networking site — that they have been fired; they have had a death in the family; some unfortunate event or may be just a bad day.

They want to show the person they care, but do not know him or her well enough to say anything that does not sound trite.

Then they see that someone has — perhaps accidentally — hit the ‘like’ button.

Now, may be there is a deeper Freudian slip there, but ask these likers and they will say: “I was trying to show sympathy, but ‘like’ was my only option.”

There are many situations where ‘like’ is the antithesis of the response people may be trying to convey when they are forced to respond with such limited options.

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