Facebook's new 'Care' reaction lets you show love to friends and family amid coronavirus pandemic

Sweet.
 By 
Stan Schroeder
 on 
Facebook's new 'Care' reaction lets you show love to friends and family amid coronavirus pandemic

At a time when so many of us are apart due to the coronavirus pandemic, it's important to show friends and family that you haven't forgotten about them.

To help with that, Facebook is launching a new "Care" reaction on Facebook and Messenger. The new reaction was first reported on by feature sniper Jane Manchun Wong, and the news has now been officially confirmed by EMEA tech comms manager at Facebook, Alexandru Voica.

"We've added a new reaction so you can show extra support while many of us are apart. We hope this helps you, your family and your friends feel a bit more connected," the company said in a notice that shows up on Facebook for some users.

The addition brings the number of available reactions on Facebook to seven. Note that the emoji for the Care reaction are different on Facebook and Messenger; one is a smiley hugging a heart, and the other is a pulsing heart.

The new reacts will start rolling out next week globally, Voica said on Twitter, and users will be able to use it to react to posts, comments, images, videos and other content, both in the mobile Facebook app and on facebook.com.

Stan Schroeder
Stan Schroeder
Senior Editor

Stan is a Senior Editor at Mashable, where he has worked since 2007. He's got more battery-powered gadgets and band t-shirts than you. He writes about the next groundbreaking thing. Typically, this is a phone, a coin, or a car. His ultimate goal is to know something about everything.

Mashable Potato

Recommended For You
Bad Bunny's Grammys pause is now the internet's go-to reaction meme
Bad Bunny Grammys 2026 reaction meme

Jimmy Kimmel responds to Trump and the right's reaction to Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show
A man in a suit stands on a talk show stage. Text at the bottom of the screen is taken from a Truth Social post from Donald Trump.

Jon Stewart hits back at MAGA's reaction to Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show
A man in a suit sits behind a talk show desk. In the top left is a screenshot of a Truth Social post.

Stephen Colbert condemns the Trump administration's reaction to ICE shooting
A man in a suit stands on a talk show stage. The caption reads, "They're telling you to believe them and not eyes."

This smart frame lets me upload toddler photos on the go. My whole family bought one
photo frame in front of an orange background

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone

What's new to streaming this week? (April 3, 2026)
A composite of images from film and TV streaming this week.


NYT Strands hints, answers for April 3, 2026
A game being played on a smartphone.
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!