Does BestInterest support reacting to messages (likes, dislikes, etc.)?

Yes and no.

When a coparent who is not a BestInterest user sends you a reaction—like “liking” your message—we do display and notify you of that reaction in your message list. But BestInterest does not support sending reactions (sometimes called “tapbacks”). Here’s why:

1. Reactions aren’t reliable across platforms. Each phone or app handles reactions differently. Some coparents might see “So-and-so liked your message”, others see just a 👍, and sometimes the reaction doesn’t appear at all. It’s not a dependable form of communication.
2. Reactions don’t translate well to court. Family courts rely on written communication. A reaction like a heart or thumbs up can be ambiguous. Did they agree with you? Did they just want to acknowledge the message? A clear “Yes” or “Okay” will always carry more weight than an emoji.
3. They can fuel unnecessary conflict. In high-conflict coparenting, even small gestures can be misinterpreted. A “laugh” reaction might be taken as sarcasm. A “thumbs down” could escalate tension. BestInterest focuses on reducing conflict, not adding fuel to it.
4. They can create confusion. It’s far too easy to send the “wrong” reaction by accident. One slip of the finger can change a neutral communication into an offensive one, causing conflict where there doesn’t need to be any.
5. Our priority is clarity and documentation. Every message in BestInterest is designed to be clear, court-ready, and unambiguous. Written responses ensure that your communication is both understandable to your coparent and easy to present in legal or professional settings.

Bottom line: BestInterest shows you reactions sent from outside platforms so you don’t miss anything—but we don’t support sending reactions. Instead, we encourage short, clear written replies that keep your communication reliable, court-appropriate, and focused on your child.