New Facebook reactions: Black Country emoticons are just bostin'

The social media giant rolled out it five new reactions alongside its traditional like button - last week, causing an internet storm.

And to add to the hysteria, the Black Country's very own versions have now been drawn up.

Popular sayings from our region have replaced the wordings of the new 'emoticons' in the versions put together by a well known businessman from the region.

They were coined by Steve Pitt, boss of printing company Black Country T-Shirts, which prints a range of clothing and other gifts bearing Black Country slogans.

Mr Pitt said: "I was on Facebook as the icons literally went live. Straight away as I saw them I thought there should be Black Country versions."

They have gone viral since Mr Pitt posted them on his firm's Facebook page, attracting more than 100,000 views.

"It is good for promoting the area and culture," he said, although adding he felt there should be a 'Bay Bovered' button for 'not bothered'.

The names of the emoticons have been replaced with Black Country versions.

Love has become Luv, Bostin has replaced Haha, Wow reads Cow Me, Sad has been extended to Med Me Sad Day It and Angry has been changed to Gorra Cob On.

The move to install the new reactions has been seen as unprecedented, because since Facebook was launched in 2004, it has only ever had one reaction - the thumbs-up 'like' button.

They have also replaced the idea to have a 'dislike' button, which Facebook believed would create negative connotations.

The reaction from people on social media to the Black Country emoticons can be summed up in one word - bostin'.

Of the scores of comments posted on the Black Country T-Shirts' Facebook page almost all are positive, with some users even asking where they can get the emotions from to use.

Andrea Woolls wrote: "The last two cracked me up."

Carrie Ann Molloy posted: "Brilliant ay it!! while Rob Farrow askedL "How do I get them?"