FACEBOOK has launched a feature allowing people to express pleasure when friends post bad news.

Many users had been anxious about being misconstrued as sympathetic for liking posts about illness, house buying problems or pet death.

A spokesman said: “The success of our social network is built on the satisfaction users get from seeing old enemies and rivals fail. I’m actually amazed it has taken us this long to fully exploit that fact.”

She added: “When a poster gets over 10 Schadenfreude clicks, we can send an automated message to their listed spouse or partner highlighting how unpopular they are.

“We then offer them a breakup pack where we change their relationship status for them and send their now ex-partner a sad bear emoji.”

Facebook user Tom Logan commented: “My mate is just about to get divorced – well, I say mate, he fingered my girlfriend when we were 17 and they ended up getting married – so this couldn’t have come at a better time.”