Encourage 'like' button use by creating a trend page for 'liked' posts/threads

DomainArchitect.com

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Please like this post if you approve.

While reading through another thread where members began to post 'me too' '+1' and I saw Kier's post, which stated "Or there's the Like button, whose purpose is partly to avoid +1 and 'me too' posts..."

That got me thinking. It would be cool to see a trending page for posts and threads that have been liked. It would not only have the added benefit of encouraging the purpose of the 'like' button (and cut down on useless posts), but will also give members insight into what other members like and possibly introduce them to new threads or topics they might not otherwise discover! Almost like a barometer of what conversation/topics the membership likes.

I understand some people may feel this will add 'bloat' to the base installation so if you feel that way, please share your comments, but if you still like the idea then please don't hesitate to like it!

EDIT (this was added a few days after I gave the concept further thought:

A page like the one I am about to describe could represent the pulse of the forum for new and returning visitors. It could help grow forums quicker than might otherwise be possible using other forum software because this page will encourage positive contributions to the site. Perhaps some will consider the following page worthy of an add-on rather than a tweak, or small upgrade. Still, it may enhance the forum software in ways that few of us can imagine at the present moment.

The page will display certain stats:

5 Top Liked Threads (for specific terms, like the last 24 hours, the last 7 days, the last month, the last year, overall).

* - This will help new and returning visitors learn about the threads that members like most.

Top 5 Most Valueable Members (for specific terms, like the last 24 hours, the last 7 days, the last month, the last year, overall).

* - This will help new and returning visitors learn about the members who are truly most valuable to the community.

A member's value to the community can be measured by the ratio of average 'likes'/thread started or avg 'likes'/post, or both. (It might be interesting to display on a member's profile since these measurements of a member's value to the community, which allows other people to evaluate other members).

To address the issue of 'like' abuse by certain members who will conspire to 'like' threads created by the other person, you could limit the number of likes one can give out based on membership history, one's value to the community, or simply by the number of likes one can give out per day. I am sure others can think of other ways to do this as well, but that can be worked out.
 
Upvote 38
I wonder what percentage of members on xenForo even bother using the Like feature. I see no value in it and have it completely disabled. A good post doesn't require anything to promote discussion, members will see it using the What's New link.
 
I wonder what percentage of members on xenForo even bother using the Like feature. I see no value in it and have it completely disabled. A good post doesn't require anything to promote discussion, members will see it using the What's New link.
Conversely, I never use the What's New link. I do, however, often use the Like feature, and see it as beneficial.
 
This is definitely one of the downsides to such a tool, but perhaps we can explore a solution or a way to discourage such abuse of this feature. Any ideas?
That's always difficult to prevent. A solution could be that for the ranking, you don't count the number of absolute points received, but take into account from how many different users these points were collected. So for example you received 100 like-points from 50 different people; ten you would rank higher than someone with 100 like-points from 25 different people.

But really, I think it's best not to rank users at all. It would be better to only rank threads and posts. You lower the risk for abuse, since better content usually wins when a lot of users are involved in rating it. When it gets more personal i.e. reputation points, it's always about personal gain and nepotism.

I think in that regard, it's even better not to show like points from users at all. Make it about the content instead of the reputation.
 
I suppose someone would have to enjoy lots of friends being on the same forum to really abuse this feature. If any member solicits likes from other members, it could also be a bannable offense.
 
I suppose someone would have to enjoy lots of friends being on the same forum to really abuse this feature. If any member solicits likes from other members, it could also be a bannable offense.
I would have to ban 25% of our members :D I can't prove it, but I know they do it. That's why the vB reputation system sucks, that's why any 'karma' system will always suck. The 'like' system is different, it focusses on rating posts instead of members, it's public so people will be more honest I think. If there's an option to disable user ranking, I think this 'trend page' can be a great addition to the like system.
 
Or perhaps limit the number of likes a member can give like the reputation system on vBulletin and expect that truly great threads will win out over falsely like content...just a thought.
 
I wonder what percentage of members on xenForo even bother using the Like feature. I see no value in it and have it completely disabled. A good post doesn't require anything to promote discussion, members will see it using the What's New link.
you'll never know, because those that don't won't like your post to show they agree :D
 
Just saw this in another post, so I thought I'd quote it here. Perhaps Mike or Kier, or someone with initimate knowledge of their current thinking, can chime into this thread soon enough! :D

I'd also like to implement global 'most liked content' and 'recently liked content' that extend to all members in due course.
 
I wonder what percentage of members on xenForo even bother using the Like feature. I see no value in it and have it completely disabled. A good post doesn't require anything to promote discussion, members will see it using the What's New link.
I'm happy to tell you that as of right now, there are 13,827 likes registered, made by 579 unique users. I'd say that represents a fairly comprehensive success.
 
I wonder what percentage of members on xenForo even bother using the Like feature. I see no value in it and have it completely disabled. A good post doesn't require anything to promote discussion, members will see it using the What's New link.

haven't seen any positive post from you , is there something you don't want to disable in XF at all ?
 
I'm happy to tell you that as of right now, there are 13,827 likes registered, made by 579 unique users. I'd say that represents a fairly comprehensive success.


(that's based on us having 46,770 messages and 1,688 members at this time)

Hmm, if my math is correct, then that is...
An average of 23.88 likes per user who used the like system.

An average of 8.19 likes per user overall.

An average of 0.295 likes per message overall.
 
So out of 1688 users only 579 of them used the Like feature. I would assume that out of that 579 users, a good portion used the feature just a few times. If I'm not mistaken, it sounds like the Like feature is only used by a small percentage of members.
 
Or, put another way, 34% of users have made use of the 'like' system at least once, and 30% of messages have attracted a 'like'.

Of those users, 519 have posted at least one message, which amongst other things tells you that some people have registered and used the 'like' system in favour of the post system.
 
Or, put another way, 34% of users have made use of the 'like' system at least once, and 30% of messages have attracted a 'like'.

Of those users, 519 have posted at least one message, which amongst other things tells you that some people have registered and used the 'like' system in favour of the post system.

I'm still trying to understand the all benefits of the Like feature. From what I understand, the Like feature offers the following:

1) A way to say "thanks I like you post" without having to create a post
2) A way to encourage members to post meaningful posts to accumulate Like points
3) A way to analyze internally those posts which have many Likes to be able to compare ideas better

I'm starting to understand better why the Like feature exists. Thanks Kier.
 
Furthermore, 832 of the 1,688 members have never posted. Are you going to say that posting is redundant because only a portion of users actually post?

Actually being schooled is exactly why I post my thoughts. I like learning things.

Speaking of learning, Kier, can you tell us how the code works when the number of likes are displayed under a post.

For example, a liked post might have: "User 1, User 2, User 3 and XX others like this post."

Are User 1, User 2, and User 3, the most recent members to 'like' that particular post?
 
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