When Facebook's "Like" button appeared in 2007, people quickly asked for an alternative to the cheerful thumbs-up symbol. Many called it a "Dislike" button. Well, such a button is finally in the works, even if it probably won't be a "Dislike" button, exactly. In all likelihood, the feature Zuck announced Monday will be more suited to communicating empathy or acknowledgement than conveying displeasure.

That also means the most literal foil to the "Like" button—a thumbs-down—probably isn't an option. Cramming complex feelings and connotations into a single icon is an immensely difficult challenge for designers. It's hard to account for the feelings of a billion people, which is why a thumbs-down doesn't cut it; as all-encompassing symbols go, it's a pretty blunt implement.

It's still anyone's guess what the new icon will look like. But we asked a handful of designers how they would tackle the challenge of creating a subtle alternative to the "Like" button. Here's what they came up with.

The Ear Button, or the "I Hear You" Button:

In conversation, the quickest way to express empathy is to say "I hear you." Might as well, then, use a pictogram of the human ear for a so-called "empathy" button, says Scott Thomas, who served as design director for Barack Obama's first presidential campaign. The symbol could communicate receptiveness and engagement while fostering a sense of community and inquisitiveness. The one hiccup we foresee? Users could confuse it with the audio button.