How to Downvote on Twitter ？

How Do I Get the Downvote Button on Twitter

There's no need to install anything or take specific steps to get the downvote button—it's currently in a test phase for a subset of users, so you either have access or you don't. This week, many accounts globally (on both web and mobile, iOS and Android) will start seeing the feature.

If you have the downvote feature, you'll notice a down arrow beneath the text of a tweet reply (not on standalone tweets), positioned to the right of the "like" button. To use it, simply click the arrow. Like other primary Twitter buttons, you can click the downvote again to undo the action.

What Happens When I Downvote a Tweet

It’s crucial to clarify: the downvote isn’t an "angry like" button.

It isn’t designed to publicly tally negative reactions to a tweet—nor does it publicly affect content in any way. Clicking it won’t notify the tweet’s author or other users, and it won’t reorder replies or reduce like counts.

According to Twitter, the button aims to help the platform "prioritize higher-quality content." The company recommends downvoting replies that "don’t add to the conversation."

What does the downvote do?

Records input privately: The author of the tweet you've downvoted will never know, and Twitter users won't see a downvote count (like on Reddit) or dogpile-style public shaming.

Exists on replies only: This is a tool to analyze conversations more than independent tweets.

Provides Twitter with data: Think of the button as a way to talk to Twitter and its algorithm, not your friends and other Twitter users.

What Is the Point of a Downvote on Twitter

Twitter didn’t create the downvote because your content is specifically bad—though that makes for a funny joke.

In reality, as Twitter rep Celeste Carswell told The Washington Post, the company is studying spammy replies to "better surface relevant content" and "foster healthier engagement."

This feature has been in testing for years. In mid-2021, Twitter first rolled out the down arrow to a small group of iOS users in select countries, framing it as a limited-time data-gathering tool. Think of it like a principal sneaking into the cafeteria to pull students aside for feedback—Twitter wants to understand which replies users find least valuable.

What they’ll do with this data remains unclear.

In February 2022, Twitter expanded its downvote experiment, rolling out the feature to select web users worldwide. The testing has since broadened, now reaching a subset of global users on web, iOS, and Android platforms.

The company has shared initial insights:

Most users employ the button to flag replies as offensive or irrelevant.

When available, downvoting has become the primary method for users to signal they want to avoid specific tweets (over alternatives like muting or reporting spam).

Twitter claims that overall, downvoting "enhances conversation quality" on the platform.

What's Wrong With Twitter's Downvote Button

Some Twitter users are skeptical of the downvote, questioning both the button’s placement and the potential threat in its existence.

Why You Should Downvote Tweets