The Like in real life
Yesterday I wrote an analysis on the Facebook Like button. I stated that the like button can be confusing for businesses, as well as social-ites who are trying to decipher what each person likes about the new post.
It got me thinking about the similarities between the Facebook Like button and the real life word: like.
People use it ALL the time. I like this. I like that. I like, like that. But it is difficult to gauge how much they like the item. I like bagels. But I really LIKE a blueberry bagel. I like, like aka LOVE a Noah's blueberry bagel. I like peanut butter. I really like peanut butter with jelly. I like the sun. But I 'like like', not a typo, being in the sun on a summer day next to a body of water.
What Facebook got right (which are many) is between how ambiguous we use the word like in real life and how it is used on Facebook.
We have no idea the depth of how much you 'like' something. I like hamsters but I would never own one. I really like the black and white cookies at Specialty's and I would buy you one if you had never tried it.
Let's diverge into relationships a bit. After understanding there is a whole spectrum of liking something, you tend to get confused when you hear the phrase: I like you.
Does she/he like me like...
The Spectrum of Liking:
- I...like...the t-shirt you are wearing. means they found the first thing they could think of to avoid that fact that they think you are not cool.
- I like you as a friend. or. I like you but... meaning you are a super cool, fun guy/girl which is why you are my friend BUT I like you like a brother/sister. and NO I would not date my brother/sister.
- I...would like to get to know you more... meaning exactly that. So slow down. Actually all the words are pretty self explanatory. We just like to confuse ourselves or hear something we didn't actually hear.
- I like you. Don't get confused. It is three simple words. I-like-you. You don't have to be thinking about bagels or cookies or hamsters. You don't have to confuse yourself.
- I 'like like' you. meaning I really, really like you! However, you may not like me as much as I like you...
The Facebook Like button
I hit the like button on pages all the time. I like your picture. I like your comment. I like the fact you had fun on your vacation. I like your status. I like the fact that you are my friend.
It doesn’t mean I want to get into a long involved conversation or see all your vacation pictures. It just means that something about that status, picture, or link piqued my interest. The Like button is very informal and it takes little to no effort to do: a click.
The Facebook Like Button: An Analysis::
I like your picture.
- I wish I was there.
- That food looks delicious!
- You guys look really good. I look really good.
- That scenery looks amazing!
- That place looks so fun! Mental note.
I like your cleverly laid out status update.
- How long did it take you to think that? Couple minutes, Couple hours, Couple days? Probably a couple hours. It's ok, everyone tries.
- That is fricking hilarious!!!! My friend is a genius!!
- Wait, where did they steal that from...
I like your comment to the status.
- Touche.
- BOOM Roasted.
- SUCKA!
- PWNed
I like your link, video, image.
- You can run and tell that. RUN & Tell that! HOMEBOY!
- You saw that video too? That thing is so fricking hilarious! I didn't know you were so cool! We are 'closer' friends now that we both like this ridiculous video.
- Wow, that link is good! Good post.
I like the jeans you are selling on your website . I like them because I already own a pair. I am not giving you permission to contact me and try to sell me something or to suggest to my friends that they should buy them because I like them.
I like the book you just read. I would like to buy a copy. It would save me time if by liking this book someone would contact me from Amazon with a link to quickly allow me to buy it.
“Liking” something can have any number of meanings. Unless FB comes up with a solution for the problems caused by the misinterpretation of these meanings, the Like button will quickly become a nuisance.
So whats the solution?
Colors.
Let us click on the Like button until the color and meaning we agree with shows up.
A green like button with the word (BUY) next to it would send a message to the website to send me a link to allow me to buy it now
A yellow like button with the word (Info) next to it would send a message to the website to send me general information
An orange like button with the word (Stop) could send the message to leave me alone. I just wanted to say I liked it.
A red like button with the word (Dislike) needs to be near the like button. I like statuses but sometimes I DISLIKE statuses! It would create a whole new level of conversation and time idling on Facebook!
There are lots of colors that can offer lots of different action/non action suggestions. Cycling through them when you click the like button would be easy. Sending the appropriate information to a monitoring program would be easy.
It’s the Like 2.o solution.
And while Facebook is at it, can we do the same thing for Poke...
P.S. Feel free to like this post. No judgment because I have NO CLUE why you like this post anyways 
That is until Facebook implements my ideas...