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The Rise of the Like Economy
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The Rise of the Like Economy

Once a cursed project, the tiny feature has had a huge effect not only on the site, but on us

Victor Luckerson
Medium, 2017
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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Analytical
  • Eye Opening
  • Overview

Recommendation

Have you ever peered over the shoulder of a Facebook-using friend only to be astounded at how his or her newsfeed differs from your own? In this article, Victor Luckerson from The Ringer provides a rundown of the unintended consequences of Facebook’s like button, along with some inside stories about its creation. getAbstract recommends this summary to Facebook users interested in the site’s decision to move away from its traditional “let the user decide” algorithm and take a more hands-on approach to your newsfeed display.

Take-Aways

  • Facebook created its like button to cut down on repetitive comments and to assist its algorithm in highlighting interesting content.
  • While the like button solved several of the site’s problems, it has also led to unintended consequences. Dissemination of “fake news” is one of the most egregious.
  • Use of the like button reflects knee-jerk reactions, not thoughtful analysis. Unfortunately, it has a large effect on what other Facebook users see in their newsfeed.

About the Author

Victor Luckerson is a staff writer at The Ringer. He writes about consumer technology, culture and politics.

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