Google draws user ire over failed April Fool’s Day prank

Google has come under fire from users over the launch of a new tool on April Fools' Day that cost a number of people potential jobs.

The new Gmail Mic Drop button, located next to the normal send button, permanently terminates an email thread by muting all future replies to the sender and firing off a gif of a minion "mic dropping" at the same time.

After the backlash that followed immediately, the feature was withdrawn this morning. According to some people using it, by accidentally pressing the button  instead of simply sending the email, they had appeared rude or unprofessional, in some cases costing them jobs.

"Today, Gmail is making it easier to have the last word on any email with Mic Drop," the internet giant said when introducing the service.  Simply reply to any email using the new 'Send + Mic Drop' button. Everyone will get your message, but that's the last you'll ever hear about it. Yes, even if folks try to respond, you won't see it."

"I just sent off an email with my resume to the first person who wanted to interview me in months," one user posted in a Google Help forum. " I clicked the wrong button and sent it with the mic drop. Well, I guess I'm not getting that job. Words cannot describe how pissed off I am right now.  I'm actually shaking.  One click, ONE CLICK and I lost the job.  Goddamnit.  Not funny, google.  I'm going to go cry now."

The message was intended to humorously convey that the sender was vacating the conversation, however, some users said they accidentally sent it to bosses, clients, and other people who might not appreciate a mic-dropping minion.

According to commentators, the problem was not so much with the content, it was the execution that had gone wrong. The new button replaced Gmail's "send and archive" option, an actually helpful option allowed users to close out conversations and file the email string away in their records.