No More Rainbow Pride Flag as Facebook Ditches Custom Reaction Buttons

As the world celebrates Pride Month this June, Facebook has confirmed that it is no longer rolling out the rainbow flag reaction button this year.

Last year, Facebook users only had to like the LGBTQ@Facebook page to add the rainbow flag to their reaction buttons tray. The feature was a welcome addition after Facebook expanded the options for reacting to posts to include the Love, Haha, Wow, Sad and Angry buttons.

It is important to note, though, that the new policy applies to all special reaction buttons that are released coinciding with worldwide holidays and celebrations. Apart from the rainbow flag, Facebook also launched the limited-time flower reaction button in the last two years to celebrate Mother's Day, but this is also going away, according to Facebook.

This was confirmed by Facebook spokeswoman Lisa Stratton in an earlier statement to Business Insider. “We are no longer doing custom reactions for major holidays or moments in culture,” Stratton said.

At the beginning of the month, Alex Schultz, Facebook VP and executive sponsor of pride@facebook, announced other features which they are launching this month so users can celebrate Pride Month on social media.

Probably to make up for the loss of the rainbow flag button, Schultz confirmed that these features are going to be available even after the Pride Month. “We know that people in the LGBTQ community are supporting one another worldwide and year-round, which is why we’re making all of these effects available throughout the year,” Schultz said in a news release.

For one, Facebook added special Pride Profile Frames which users can apply to their profile pictures. To use the feature and select a rainbow-themed frame, users just need to open http://www.facebook.com/profilepicframes and search for “fbpride.”

Pride-themed text backgrounds are also made available for customized news feed posts. Meanwhile, in Facebook’s Messenger platform, the company launched rainbow-themed stickers and filters that can be used in photo and video live updates.

The still-active LGBTQ@Facebook page will also post Pride celebration schedules and updates as well as inspiring stories from the LGBTQ community.