Like button

For the like button used for Facebook, see Facebook like button.
The "Like" button" used for Facebook.

A like button, like option, or recommend button is a feature in communication software such as social networking services, Internet forums, news websites and blogs where the user can express that they like, enjoy or support certain content. Internet services that feature like buttons usually display the number of users who liked each content, and may show a full or partial list of them. This is a quantitative alternative to other methods of expressing reaction to content, like writing a reply text. Some websites also include a dislike button, so the user can either vote in favour, against or neutrally. Other websites include more complex Web content voting systems, for example five stars.

Uses

Various social buttons allow users to express their recommendation or support for websites across web communication platforms.[1]

List of like buttons

Facebook like button

Main article: Facebook like button

The Facebook like button (activated 9 February 2009[2]) is designed as a hand giving "thumbs up". It was originally discussed to have been a star or a plus sign, and during development the feature was referred to as "awesome" instead of "like".[3]

Use on FriendFeed

The like button was first announced as a FriendFeed feature on October 30, 2007 and was popularized within its community.[4] Later on the feature was integrated to Facebook before eventually FriendFeed was acquired by Facebook August 10, 2009.[5]

Google's +1 button

Google has a like button called the +1. +1 was introduced in June 2011.[6] In August 2011 the +1 button also became a share icon.[7]

Instagram

Instagram has a like button. It is a heart symbol similar to those in Twitter and VK. On the mobile app, double-tapping a photo also acts as a like button.

Twitter

Alongside "retweets", Twitter users could "favorite" posts made on the service, indicated by a gold star symbol. In November 2015, to alleviate user confusion and put the function more in line with other social networks, the "favorite" function was renamed "like", and its button was changed from a star symbol to a heart.[8]

YouTube

In 2010, as part of a wider redesign of the service, YouTube switched from a star-based rating system to Like/Dislike buttons. Under the previous system, users could rate videos on a scale from 1 to 5 stars; YouTube staff argued that this change reflected common usage of the system, as 2-, 3-, and 4-star ratings were not used as often.[9][10]

In 2012, YouTube briefly experimented with replacing the Like/Dislike buttons with a Google+ +1 button.[11]

Sina Weibo

Sina Weibo has a like button. Its functions are similar to those on Twitter.

Strava

Strava, the popular GPS tracking app for cycling and running, has the Kudos button which gives the option for users to like the activities of fellow athletes.

VK

VK like buttons for posts, comments, media and external sites operate in a different way from Facebook. Liked content doesn't get automatically pushed to the user's wall, but is saved in the (private) Favorites section instead.

References

  1. ↑ Gerlitz, Carolin; Helmond, Anne (2011). "Hit, link, like and share. Organising the social and the fabric of the web". Digital Methods Winter Conference Proceedings (Goldsmiths, University of London): 1–29.
  2. ↑ Kincaid, Jason (2009-02-09). "Facebook Activates "Like" Button; FriendFeed Tires Of Sincere Flattery". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2014-01-30.
  3. ↑ Andrew Bosworth. "What's the history of the Awesome Button (that eventually became the Like button) on Facebook?". Quora. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  4. ↑ Taylor, Bret (2007-10-30). "I like it, I like it". FriendFeed Blog. Retrieved 2014-10-21.
  5. ↑ Kincaid, Jason (2009-08-10). "Facebook Acquires FriendFeed (Updated)". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2014-10-21.
  6. ↑ Siegler, MG (May 31, 2011). "Whoops Redux: Looks Like Partner Just Leaked Google's +1 Button For Websites Launch". TechCrunch. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  7. ↑ Newman, Jared (24 August 2011). "Google +1 Now Links to Google+ Profiles: Let the War on Facebook's 'Like' Button Begin". PC World. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  8. ↑ "Twitter officially kills off favorites and replaces them with likes". The Verge (Vox Media). Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  9. ↑ "YouTube's big redesign goes live to everyone". CNET. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  10. ↑ "YouTube Comes To A 5-Star Realization: Its Ratings Are Useless". TechCrunch. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  11. ↑ "Google+ replacing ability to dislike a YouTube video?". Geek.com. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, January 06, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.