The "favorite" feature on twitter is misused as a "like" button

[TH55]

The purpose of this feature is to save a collection of tweets you found funny or interesting.

People favorite so many tweets that it's impossible that it is being successfully used for this purpose.

I see people favorite the most trivial, inconsequential tweets like one word responses that couldn't possibly be understood as standalone tweets out of context.

Clearly, it is being used exactly as the "like" button is on Facebook. Strange. They should remedy this by adding a like button.

 

[boss.king]

Does it really matter?

 

[TH55]

Does it really matter?

Considering it's the most popular social network on earth, yes it does. It is a huge flaw.

 

[plainwhitetay]

Yup. I (and I assume other "techies") use Twitter vastly different than the common majority.

 

[Knowimagination]

The purpose of this feature is to save a collection of tweets you found funny or interesting.

People favorite so many tweets that it's impossible that it is being successfully used for this purpose.

I see people favorite the most trivial, inconsequential tweets like one word responses that couldn't possibly be understood as standalone tweets out of context.

Clearly, it is being used exactly as the "like" button is on Facebook. Strange. They should remedy this by adding a like button.

Funny, twitter seems to disagree with you.

What is a favorite?
Favorites, represented by a small star icon next to a Tweet, are most commonly used when users like a Tweet. Favoriting a Tweet can let the original poster know that you liked their Tweet, or you can save the Tweet for later.

 

[boss.king]

Considering it's the most popular social network on earth, yes it does. It is a huge flaw.

But they're using it regardless. Just because they aren't using it the way you think it should be used doesn't mean it's being used wrong. As another user posted, it seems you're the one who misunderstood what the button is for.

 

[TH55]

Funny, twitter seems to disagree with you.

Just because the majority of users don't know how to properly use it doesn't mean it's being used properly. You should be smart enough to realize that. All they're saying is that is what most people use it for, but clearly it wasn't designed as a like button otherwise it wouldn't save the tweet in a "favorites" list. It was meant as a bookmark.

 

[boss.king]

Just because the majority of users don't know how to properly use it doesn't mean it's being used properly. You should be smart enough to realize that. All they're saying is that is what most people use it for, but clearly it wasn't designed as a like button otherwise it wouldn't save the tweet in a "favorites" list. It was meant as a bookmark.

Wait, are you saying that the guys at Twitter (the ones who implemented the feature) are wrong about how it's meant to be used?

 

[rdowns]

Thanks Obama.

 

[roadbloc]

Just because the majority of users don't know how to properly use it doesn't mean it's being used properly. You should be smart enough to realize that. All they're saying is that is what most people use it for, but clearly it wasn't designed as a like button otherwise it wouldn't save the tweet in a "favorites" list. It was meant as a bookmark.

Twitter: Okay. Here is the favourite feature and it is for tweets you like. Enjoy!
The World: Sweet! Thanks Twitter Team!
TH55: No, the Twitter developers got it wrong! It isn't for tweets you like at all! Stop using it like that guise!

In short, you're wrong. I'm sorry.

 

[pdjudd]

Just because the majority of users don't know how to properly use it doesn't mean it's being used properly. You should be smart enough to realize that.

Dude. Unless you can come up with a more authoritative source other then the actual company that developed the feature (good luck), just admit you were wrong. Just because you believe a function of Twitter is for not for function X, and Twitter themselves says that it actually is, doesn’t mean you can say that it is wrong.

Give it up. You are wrong.

 

[TH55]

Wait, are you saying that the guys at Twitter (the ones who implemented the feature) are wrong about how it's meant to be used?

No, I'm saying that just because the executives' or even the actual designer's intention of implementing the favorite feature was for it function as a like button, doesn't mean it was improperly implemented.

Answer me this: do you think the like button on Facebook should store every single comment and picture you "like" on a cluttered list?

No, that would be ridiculous. And that is my point, if their intention was for it to simply serve as a like button then they failed, it makes no sense for it to save every like. Think of all of the trivial stuff people like multiple times a day.

If they wanted it to double up as a bookmark function also, that makes no sense since the two functions serve completely different purposes. Do you see what I'm saying?

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Dude. Unless you can come up with a more authoritative source other then the actual company that developed the feature (good luck), just admit you were wrong. Just because you believe a function of Twitter is for not for function X, and Twitter themselves says that it actually is, doesn’t mean you can say that it is wrong.

Give it up. You are wrong.

Read above, maybe I didn't word it correctly the first time - I obviously am not going to dispute what the designer said, that doesn't make sense. I'm just saying if it was meant to be a like button, it shouldn't also save every tweet, what's the purpose of that?

And if it's supposed to function also as a bookmark button how on earth would you be able to sift through all of the thousands of tweets you've liked to find the ones you wanted to bookmark?

 

[TH55]

Wait, are you saying that the guys at Twitter (the ones who implemented the feature) are wrong about how it's meant to be used?

Now that I read back through it the guys at Twitter, according to that quote, never said anything about it being "meant" for that. He just said that is how it's most commonly used, which is consistent with my original point.

 

[Knowimagination]

The problem with your argument is that you seem to think there is only 1 correct way to use the function. Even if the feature was implemented with a different use in mind it does not change the fact that it is used more like a like button today.

Sometimes I want to let one of the people I follow know that I like their tweet, but I don't want to retweet it to my followers so I favorite it.

More importantly your premise is that it doesn't make sense to have a list of the things people have favorited and that is where I would say your argument doesn't make sense. When I am deciding to follow someone I do not personally know, I look at what they have tweeted obviously, but I also check out their favorites list to see what kind of stuff they like. It creates a more well rounded picture than only paying attention to the tweets someone sends, because a lot of times people censor themselves in what they tweet but will favorite things they would never tweet themselves.

I understand what you were trying to get at, but ultimately you are going to end up being wrong on this one.

 

[zioxide]

Answer me this: do you think the like button on Facebook should store every single comment and picture you "like" on a cluttered list?

Uhh, it does. Click on your profile and hit "Activity Log".

 

[TH55]

The problem with your argument is that you seem to think there is only 1 correct way to use the function. Even if the feature was implemented with a different use in mind it does not change the fact that it is used more like a like button today.

Sometimes I want to let one of the people I follow know that I like their tweet, but I don't want to retweet it to my followers so I favorite it.

More importantly your premise is that it doesn't make sense to have a list of the things people have favorited and that is where I would say your argument doesn't make sense. When I am deciding to follow someone I do not personally know, I look at what they have tweeted obviously, but I also check out their favorites list to see what kind of stuff they like. It creates a more well rounded picture than only paying attention to the tweets someone sends, because a lot of times people censor themselves in what they tweet but will favorite things they would never tweet themselves.

I understand what you were trying to get at, but ultimately you are going to end up being wrong on this one.

Exactly, so there should be a favorite button and a like button, they are two separate concepts. That's been my point all along.

 

[Knowimagination]

Exactly, so there should be a favorite button and a like button, they are two separate concepts. That's been my point all along.

Yes I understand this, but the whole point of my post was that it doesn't make sense to separate the two. I would hate it if they added a separate like button.

 

[TH55]

Yes I understand this, but the whole point of my post was that it doesn't make sense to separate the two. I would hate it if they added a separate like button.

How does it not make sense, and why would you hate it if they added a like button?

It makes perfect sense - why would you want every single thing you liked documented? And more importantly, what if you want to save really funny or interesting tweets? The list would be completely spammed by all of the tweets you liked.

 

[TH55]

Yes I understand this, but the whole point of my post was that it doesn't make sense to separate the two. I would hate it if they added a separate like button.

What if you want to go find an interesting/funny tweet you favorited? Do you realize how often people favorite stuff? It would be like finding a needle in a haystack.

 

[boss.king]

How about you just don't favourite so many things then? The point is thay regardless of what people think a feature should be, the best use is one that is actually useful. For the favourite button, that may be a like function. They could call it the delete button if they want, people will still find the most appropriate to use it and stick to that.

Tl;Dr: I see what youre getting at, but youre wrong.

 

[TH55]

How about you just don't favourite so many things then? The point is thay regardless of what people think a feature should be, the best use is one that is actually useful. For the favourite button, that may be a like function. They could call it the delete button if they want, people will still find the most appropriate to use it and stick to that.

Tl;Dr: I see what youre getting at, but youre wrong.

I agree with you that it doesn't always matter what the original purpose was, all that matters is what it's best used as, but in this case there is a need for a second button.

I don't favorite very much stuff, I only favorite Tweets that are uniquely funny or interesting. I don't use it as a like button. Everyone else does, however. The more active users probably favorite 20 things a day. I'm talking about tweets like "lol" and "yeah right". Why on earth would you want or need these saved in a list?

 

[roadbloc]

I'm talking about tweets like "lol" and "yeah right". Why on earth would you want or need these saved in a list?

Okay I'm going to throw this one out there.

Who cares?

 

[TH55]

Okay I'm going to throw this one out there.

Who cares?

Originally I just posted this to propose an improvement to a widely used app, but the absurd level of opposition I've received in this thread was both confusing and frustrating as I've thought this through very thoroughly and it's clear that my logic is correct.

 

[rdowns]

Originally I just posted this to propose an improvement to a widely used app, but the absurd level of opposition I've received in this thread was both confusing and frustrating as I've thought this through very thoroughly and it's clear that my logic is correct.

If you like your favorite button, you can keep your favorite button.

 

[roadbloc]

Originally I just posted this to propose an improvement to a widely used app, but the absurd level of opposition I've received in this thread was both confusing and frustrating as I've thought this through very thoroughly and it's clear that my logic is correct.

I knew you cared, that goes without saying, you're the one constantly posting about it. I was just wondering if anybody else in the world did. Because I've never seen so much complaint from a non-issue in my life.