Like button
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.
Implementations
FriendFeed
The like button was first announced as a FriendFeed feature on October 30, 2007 and was popularized within its community.[1] Later on the feature was integrated to Facebook before eventually FriendFeed was acquired by Facebook August 10, 2009.[2]
The Facebook like button 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] It was introduced on 9 February 2009.[4]
YouTube
In 2010, as part of a wider redesign of the service, YouTube switched from a star-based rating system to Like/Dislike buttons (first in the world to have 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.[5][6]
In 2012, YouTube briefly experimented with replacing the Like and Dislike buttons with a Google+ +1 button.[7]
Google has a like button called the +1. +1 was introduced in June 2011.[8] In August 2011 the +1 button also became a share icon.[9]
Instagram has a like button. It is a heart symbol similar to those in Twitter, Tumblr and VK. On the mobile app, double-tapping a photo also acts as a like button.
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.[10]
Tumblr
Tumblr's like button is heart-shaped like those in Twitter and Instagram.
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
- ↑ Taylor, Bret (2007-10-30). "I like it, I like it". FriendFeed Blog. Retrieved 2014-10-21.
- ↑ Kincaid, Jason (2009-08-10). "Facebook Acquires FriendFeed (Updated)". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2014-10-21.
- ↑ Andrew Bosworth. "What's the history of the Awesome Button (that eventually became the Like button) on Facebook?". Quora. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
- ↑ "YouTube's big redesign goes live to everyone". CNET. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
- ↑ "YouTube Comes To A 5-Star Realization: Its Ratings Are Useless". TechCrunch. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
- ↑ "Google+ replacing ability to dislike a YouTube video?". Geek.com. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
- ↑ Siegler, MG (May 31, 2011). "Whoops Redux: Looks Like Partner Just Leaked Google's +1 Button For Websites Launch". TechCrunch. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "Twitter officially kills off favorites and replaces them with likes". The Verge (Vox Media). Retrieved 4 November 2015.
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