Jake HenryJan 27, 2023
Chris Trottier

Some people believe there's no purpose to "liking" something on Mastodon since it doesn't affect any algorithm.

Not the case.

It does something incredibly valuable: it acknowledges people.

Which is incredibly powerful, and is all the more important *because* it's not connected to gaming any algorithm.

By liking something on Mastodon, you are doing it honestly -- without any agenda at play other than that you like it.

So go ahead. Click that like button for its own sake.

Jan 27, 2023 at 1:49amElk
Show threadChris TrottierJan 27, 2023

When you boost, it’s for others.

But when you like, it’s for yourself.

Show threadhtimSxelAJan 27, 2023
@atomicpoet When I boost, its almost always because a fat-fingered a post while scrolling the feed on mobile 😅
Show threadBrian HawthorneJan 27, 2023
@htimsxela @atomicpoet Tusker let’s you turn on an “are you sure” dialog for reposts for just this reason !
Show threadekesJan 27, 2023

@atomicpoet

No, a fav is a public endorsement because the list itself is public.

Show threadtrozJan 27, 2023

@atomicpoet I like to think this way:

Bookmark - that’s just for me
Like - thank you to whoever posted
Boost - hey everyone, look at this

Show threadChristopher Jan 27, 2023

@troz @atomicpoet

This!

I don’t boost everything I like, I boost when I think others will want to see it too.

Show threadAnders BorchJan 27, 2023

@atomicpoet I’d almost say the opposite:

When you boost, it’s “I wish I’d said this myself” - when you like, it’s “I like/agree/emphasize with what you’re saying”

When I boost it’s for myself.

When I like it’s for someone else.

😀

Show threadKirtJan 27, 2023

@atomicpoet

I think of it more as for the person who posted it?

Where I want to acknowledge their contribution but not add clutter by replying with something that doesn't add anything interesting.

Or if I am replying and I want to show that I appreciate what they said, incase what I say could be read as argumentative? I have a weird tendency to be read as argumentative when I'm not intending to, but adding lots of extra words to clarify gets too verbose, or even more awkward.

Show threadJesseJan 27, 2023
@atomicpoet Nah. You should like for me. This void in my soul won't fill itself.
Show threadsw0rdfishJan 27, 2023
@atomicpoet and the author? I’d nice to know something you said was appreciated.
Show threadNancy VanDuzen 🥥🌴Jan 27, 2023
@atomicpoet Thanks for the explainer, I am new to Mastodon and like it a lot! I was unsure what server to join so picked one randomly, I have followed many that I did at the blue bird but it seems I only am seeing a small slice of the posts from the people I follow. If anyone can explain this I would be grateful. Do I need to change servers?
Show threadAlexJan 27, 2023

@atomicpoet absolutely this.

I boost when I want others to see it. I like when I have and I like it. :)

Case in point - I like a lot of what you say, but I only boost stuff I think would be relevant to MY kind of community. You're way more technical than a lot of the people I chat with and I don't think they'd CARE about some of the details. I DO so I follow you, and I like them when I see it. :)

Show threadmagsJan 27, 2023
Not necessarily. Often, I press the ‘like’ button just to show that I’ve acknowledged the person’s toot. If I get a toot directed at me, I always ‘acknowledge’ it to let the person know I’ve at least read it.
If I agree and like the toot, I’ll usually reply with a text so they don’t feel ignored.
Show threadJDSJan 27, 2023
@atomicpoet it’s all nice sentiments, but when I “like” it’s specifically a message to the person who posted: “I like that you posted this, thanks”, even if it’s terrible news.
Show threadSocial User 🤿Jan 27, 2023

@atomicpoet I say:

Boost is for others

Favorite is for the OP

Bookmark is for yourself

Show threadzippyJan 27, 2023

@atomicpoet This is how I wished it worked on Twitter!

Wish it were a heart on here though.

Show threadilyessJan 27, 2023

@atomicpoet When you like, it’s for OP.

When you bookmark, it’s for yourself.

Show threadSean MurthyFeb 28, 2023
@atomicpoet When you favorite it's just for a fleeting moment of gratification for OP and you. When you boost, it's for longer term visibility for OP and benefit for your network.
Show threadAteriathJan 27, 2023
@atomicpoet I actually prefer ‘liking’ here to other social media for this exact reason. With Facebook or Instagram, if you like anything, you’re fed things like that thing forever and ever, amen. Here I don’t have to fear an algorithm sending me stuff like an old aunt who can only remember one thing about me. I can just like things.
Show threadJonJan 27, 2023

@atomicpoet

@Ateriath beat me to it, but these are my thoughts exactly. I find myself liking more here because I don't have to worry about disrupting my algorithm.

Show threadBig Nasty GoblinJan 27, 2023
@atomicpoet in theory, that’s what “like” features on social media should be FOR. To let the poster know that you, yknow, liked their post. That we would default to thinking of it as anything other than that is a massive indictment of corporate social media platforms.
Show threadJohn Bell 🇺🇦🇪🇺🔸🕷️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿Jan 27, 2023
@buggoblin @atomicpoet yes, Tw*tter polluted the meaning of like about 5 years ago. I will like posts to acknowledge to the writer that I like the post
Show threadRoss of OttawaJan 27, 2023

@atomicpoet this is why I'd like to see notifications of favourites for boosts.

I feel like I'm unable to acknowledge the efforts of those who have filtered/curated great content when I appreciate what they're boosting. Just a little 'like' to say thanks.

Show threadGJan 27, 2023
@ottaross @atomicpoet yeah, same. I want people to know that I appreciated the thing they put in front of me. That's one thing I miss about birdsite. It makes me feel all warm & fuzzy when someone appreciates my curation.
Show threadSean MurthyFeb 28, 2023

@gennisaisquoi @ottaross @atomicpoet How does a good post get in front of more people if it's ever only exposed to direct followers? The network effect, the true power, is in the good stuff reaching beyond the immediate circle, and that requires boosting.

Of course, not everything is boost worthy, but habitually liking posts significantly under utilizes the power of the network and does not do full justice.

Show threadDaveJan 27, 2023

@atomicpoet great comment.

I'm new here and since arriving often saw folks posting that likes are irrelevant and it's all about the boost. I think your take on it is very important.

I don't always want to boost a comment nor reply to it, but actually do like it so I liberally tap the "like" icon.

Show threadjphJan 27, 2023
@Brightdave @atomicpoet I think it’s even more important for people with a lower follower count. A boost or reply might not always make sense but a like will still show that someone, well, liked their post. It’s not for the algorithm it’s for the user.
Show threadDaveJan 27, 2023

@jph @atomicpoet that's such a great point!

I know likes, etc are not important in the grand scheme of things, but it does mean something when others like something I post. Means I've said or shared something others agree with or appreciate.

Usually I get few to no "likes" and that's fine, but when I do get some it means I'm not just typing into a vast, vacuous void.

Show threadMattJan 27, 2023
@Brightdave @jph @atomicpoet exactly! Just a little feedback to know that somebody read your words and cared
Show threadDaveJan 27, 2023
@MattFerrel @jph @atomicpoet couldn't agree more 👍
Show threadKarin SorenbyJan 27, 2023
@MattFerrel @Brightdave @jph @atomicpoet yes. So true. This is what I always hope this community to be about.. where people are being heard. I mean.. what’s the point otherwise?
Show threadjphJan 27, 2023
@kcsorenby @MattFerrel @Brightdave @atomicpoet the people are what make this place what it is. It would be awfully boring here without them 😆
Show threadKarin SorenbyJan 27, 2023
@jph @MattFerrel @Brightdave @atomicpoet yep.. it is.. so true😊☺️
Show threadTucker TeagueJan 27, 2023
@atomicpoet I made a similar comment a while back. It's one of the things that makes Mastodon better imho.
https://mastodon.social/@tuckerteague/109410848797847195
Show threadThom SlatteryJan 27, 2023

@atomicpoet "The Algorithm" really broke us. Some people immediately led with "favorites/likes don't do anything here except let the person know you liked what they said."

Exactly. That's what I wanted to do - let someone else in the world know that I liked what they wrote.

Show threadErin JonaitisJan 27, 2023
@thom @atomicpoet It was kind of a head trip returning to Twitter after a few years away, and trying to wrap my brain around what it meant that my likes might now show up in the timelines of those who followed me. That felt like a dark pattern to me, tbqh.
Show threadThom SlatteryJan 27, 2023
@emjonaitis @atomicpoet That was definitely a big sign that twitter was broken to me. Using likes to bump something up the algorithm was iffy. But injecting content into my feed because someone "liked" or even just followed an account seems completely wrong.
Show threadMax Leibman has moved!Jan 27, 2023

@thom @atomicpoet Also, it *is* a signal for other users—it’s possible to see how many ⭐️s a post has, and some clients even show it in the timeline.

Liking may not increase the likelihood that I see a post (like a boost will), but seeing lots of stars lets me know I should maybe slow down and pay attention to that one.

Show threadJackie ❤️☮️🇵🇸🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧Jan 27, 2023
@atomicpoet
Agree, it's often what I use it for. Not everything needs or warrants boosting.
Show threadJason 🍩Jan 27, 2023
@atomicpoet yeah, I don’t get why people have that take, like, it does exactly what it’s called, shares with the original person that enjoyed or LIKED what they shared
Show threadLeRoy MillerJan 27, 2023
@atomicpoet I'll go one step more and boost too.
Show threadtaste of tabooJan 27, 2023
@atomicpoet I have here a 1/5 of the following as on Twitter where I never had more than 2 tiles on a post. I believe I had more toot booth in 2 month on Mastodon than likes in 10 years combined
,
Show threadscott fJan 27, 2023
@atomicpoet @daihard If you agree with this XKCD comic's view that human brains are technically neural nets, then you could say faving a Mastodon post trains a neural net to post more things like that. https://xkcd.com/2173/
Trained a Neural Net

xkcd
Show threadMegan Marie HartJan 27, 2023
@scott I trained a neural net to turn symbols into sounds! 😂
Show threadHeliographJan 27, 2023
@atomicpoet alright then ☺️
Show threadMichael StancliftJan 27, 2023
@atomicpoet @rysiek I like things here more precisely because it doesn’t impact anything other than an acknowledgment to the l writer.
Show threadTappin LisaJan 27, 2023
@vmstan
It took me a second to figure out whether you meant:
I *like* things here more
OR
I like *things* here more
😁
Show threadMichael StancliftJan 27, 2023
@TappinLisa
Show threadKitsyJan 27, 2023

@atomicpoet

It's like giving them a smile; it's quick and free and nice. I enjoy giving people 'smiles.'

Show threadmapuJan 27, 2023
@atomicpoet so very meta to like this post 😀
Show threadWinston SmithJan 27, 2023

@atomicpoet I use it like a 'read receipt'

Find it weird how Mastodon culture is averse to doing this

Show threadtopakJan 27, 2023
@atomicpoet
Show threadRaptorJan 27, 2023
@atomicpoet
Well said...I post because I like to share experiences, not for any damn algorithm. If people like (favorite) the post then it's a bonus...made my day!
Show threadjphJan 27, 2023
@atomicpoet I leave a very long trail of likes in my wake as I scroll here. I mean there’s really almost no reason not to
Show thread@infosec_jcp 🐈🃏 done differentlyJan 27, 2023

@atomicpoet

This deserves a ⭐

Show threadBruno PhilipeJan 27, 2023
@atomicpoet @gameboycamera it boggles my mind to think people actually treated Twitter favorites like this 🫣
Show threadJonathan D. Cope, Esq.Jan 27, 2023
@atomicpoet I never "liked" to boost some algorithm. I just want to show that I liked what somebody said.
Show thread😀🚲Jan 27, 2023
@atomicpoet it's also cool that it gets indexed so you can do full-text searches of things you've liked. 😎