The Facebook Pride reaction is back—but only for select users.
The social network reinstated its rainbow flag icon for users in “major markets” with Pride celebrations. This comes just a few days before the main events at Pride in London, an annual LGBTQ festival estimated to bring one million people together.
“People in the major markets with Pride celebrations will be able to use a temporary rainbow reaction during local celebrations,” a Facebook spokesperson told the Daily Dot. “They can also like the LGBTQ@Facebook page to access the reaction, however, because this is a new experience we’ve been testing, the rainbow reaction will not be available everywhere.”
Facebook received backlash for killing off the reaction following Pride Month in the United States. Users questioned why they could only show their support for LGBTQ communities during the month of June.
i'm genuinely upset that the facebook pride reaction was only for pride month
— Adam Ray (@itsadamray) July 1, 2017
Me too like just because pride month is over it doesn't mean people shouldn't carry on having and showing pride
— tilly (@tillyaxworthyy) July 1, 2017
When you find out Facebook removed the pride flag reaction 🌈😱 pic.twitter.com/UGmvqtXTLb
— Sam Kalidi (@samkalidi) July 1, 2017
what is the fucking point of facebook without the pride reaction
— jessie 💫 (@_JSpain) July 3, 2017
Facebook was way more fun yesterday when you could use the Pride reaction. Today it's so ho-hum. #bringbackourpridereaction
— Samuel Horton-Martin (@SJMartinWrites) July 1, 2017
The removal of the rainbow flag even prompted the creation of a Change.org petition that has more than 11,000 supporters.
While it doesn’t appear Facebook will bring the feature back to the U.S. any time soon, users in the U.K., who were first able to use the reaction on Thursday morning, are feeling the love.
Well done @facebook for bringing back the pride reaction ahead of @LondonLGBTPride pic.twitter.com/0A5FEqvEIq
— Antonio Zappulla OMRI (@antozappulla) July 6, 2017
https://www.facebook.com/mvondee/posts/10155344722430915
https://www.facebook.com/queenshilling/posts/1742220222473376
https://www.facebook.com/Siany88/posts/10155023703734440
Unfortunately, users will no longer be able to use the reaction once local celebrations are over. They will, however, still be able to see the rainbow flag in the reaction count.
H/T Pink News