With the absence of the Pride reaction, Facebook and Instagram have instead launched new rainbow-inspired features – available all year – to celebrate Pride month in the US this June. Related: Facebook’s trustworthiness tool could be dangerous for LGBT+ rightsįacebook did not explain its reasoning for withholding the reaction in the countries.įacebook had choice wording when it launched the reaction, stating: “People in major markets with Pride celebrations will be able to use a temporary rainbow reaction during Pride month.” (Facebook)

Users in Egypt, Palestine, Bahrain, Lebanon, Singapore, Russia, among other countries, were unable to access the LGBT flag reaction. Rainbow Flag Pirate Flag,Triangular Flag On Post,U+1F308,Open Mailbox With Lowered Flag,Flag In Hole,Pride Flag Emoji,Waving White Flag,U+FE0F,Crossed Flags. The release of the reaction in 2017 featured its own controversy after it became clear that Facebook was hiding its LGBT Pride Month reactions from users in countries with anti-gay laws. “We are no longer doing custom reactions for major holidays or moments in culture,” Stratton said. Facebook spokesperson Lisa Stratton confirmed to Business Insider on Saturday that custom reactions, including the Pride flag, had been dropped from the social platform.