Downvotes have been present since 2016, as I recall - they aren't new.
There has to be some way to address the risk of spam and abuse. So far downvotes are the best anyone has come up with - from my POV. I have had a lot of problems being downvoted in the past, so I am not blindly in favour of them. The key is that they used with respect and against a framework of awareness and understanding.