# Clicking "like" on something on Facebook - how much thought do you put into it? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 29, 2019, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicking-like-on-something-on-facebook-how-much-thought-do-you-put-into-it/845536 "2019-12-29T04:53:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicking-like-on-something-on-facebook-how-much-thought-do-you-put-into-it/845536/1 "2019-12-29T04:53:26Z")
I have the misfortune of holding opposing political views of most of my family and friends - whether it’s pissing off Chinese friends by clicking “like” on an article condemning the Chinese government’s this-or-that action, or some post that will anger my conservative parents, or one that will piss off my liberal siblings, or whatnot. It’s like I have all my hundreds of Facebook friends compartmentalized into several overlapping Venn Diagram circles, and every time I am about to share or “like” something, I have to consider which Venn-Diagram circle of people are going to consider it. I realize I’m probably taking it too far, but I’ve been accosted before - “I saw that you clicked like on such-and-such a politician’s Facebook posts…” etc. I wish Facebook didn’t set up the “like” system in such a way that broadcasts to all my FB friends, “Your friend, **Velocity** , clicked like on this.” Unfortunately, it does work that way. Do you ever put thought/consideration into who’s going to see what you like on FB, or do you just say “screw that” and click like, like, like away? ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicking-like-on-something-on-facebook-how-much-thought-do-you-put-into-it/845536/2 "2019-12-29T04:56:10Z")
Nope. My friends and family know who I am, and also know I don’t give a shit how they feel about my opinions. They’re absolutely free to disagree, and I still don’t think about how they will react to what I “liked”. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicking-like-on-something-on-facebook-how-much-thought-do-you-put-into-it/845536/3 "2019-12-29T14:25:09Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Do you ever put thought/consideration into who’s going to see what you like on FB, or do you just say “screw that” and click like, like, like away? Do you think your friends/siblings/coworkers/parents alter their responses on Facebook because _you_ will see their responses? ---
**Author:** ![TheCuse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thecuse/32/2854_2.png) [@TheCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheCuse)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicking-like-on-something-on-facebook-how-much-thought-do-you-put-into-it/845536/4 "2019-12-29T15:00:30Z")
I don’t even check to see who likes what. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicking-like-on-something-on-facebook-how-much-thought-do-you-put-into-it/845536/5 "2019-12-29T17:15:42Z")
I view Facebook as a social obligation, like grooming among chimps. Close family member? Definitely click Like. Pleasant acquaintance? Click Like but not every post. Attractive female non-family? Click, but _not too often_. My niece who has never liked any of my posts, and whose frequent posts are indecipherable anyway? _Never._ Easy-peasy. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicking-like-on-something-on-facebook-how-much-thought-do-you-put-into-it/845536/6 "2019-12-30T11:57:41Z")
I jettison anyone on Facebook who expresses strong\* political opinions. So I don’t have the problem the OP mentioned, since I don’t see it in the first place. I press the Like button occasionally for stuff my kids post, but never for anyone else. Since my wife and I aren’t “friends” (what’s the point?), I don’t see her activity, so the only posts I feel compelled to express opinions on are those of the kids. \*ditto for bible thumpers – my FB feed is just lighthearted fun. The only thing that bothers me is I’m getting tired of the blonde and that damned cat. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicking-like-on-something-on-facebook-how-much-thought-do-you-put-into-it/845536/7 "2019-12-30T12:17:38Z")
> [@pullin](#): > > Since my wife and I aren’t “friends” (what’s the point?), I don’t see her activity, Communication is important in a relationship. Sitting in the living room in the evening, we can read each other’s Facebook posts, which initiates further conversation. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicking-like-on-something-on-facebook-how-much-thought-do-you-put-into-it/845536/8 "2019-12-30T14:10:21Z")
Generally speaking, I “like” original personal content just as photos, comments about their day, jokes, etc and skip copied/shared news stories or memes unless it’s something that really calls to me. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicking-like-on-something-on-facebook-how-much-thought-do-you-put-into-it/845536/9 "2019-12-30T15:10:45Z")
Your friends see everything that you “like”? Do you see everything that they “like”? If so, is your feed just nothing but your friends “liking” stuff? I don’t see anything my friends “like” unless it’s something another friend posted. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicking-like-on-something-on-facebook-how-much-thought-do-you-put-into-it/845536/10 "2019-12-30T15:16:51Z")
I click Like if I like something. That’s about it. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicking-like-on-something-on-facebook-how-much-thought-do-you-put-into-it/845536/11 "2019-12-30T15:43:20Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Your friends see everything that you “like”? Do you see everything that they “like”? If so, is your feed just nothing but your friends “liking” stuff? > > I don’t see anything my friends “like” unless it’s something another friend posted. Maybe our Facebook settings are different, but I do see what some friends like or react to. And I’ve had family accost me for “liking” some politician they didn’t like, so their settings must somehow be set to detect and show what I “like.” Either way, it’s a hassle how Facebook has set things up. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicking-like-on-something-on-facebook-how-much-thought-do-you-put-into-it/845536/12 "2019-12-30T16:26:14Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > And I’ve had family accost me for “liking” some politician they didn’t like, > [@](#): > > accost: approach and address (someone) boldly or aggressively. Did you accost them back? ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicking-like-on-something-on-facebook-how-much-thought-do-you-put-into-it/845536/13 "2019-12-30T16:44:36Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Maybe our Facebook settings are different, but I do see what some friends like or react to. And I’ve had family accost me for “liking” some politician they didn’t like, so their settings must somehow be set to detect and show what I “like.” Either way, it’s a hassle how Facebook has set things up. Strange. So you’ll just get a notification like “Friend #2 just ‘liked’ **Sloppy Joes made out of cats** ”? ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicking-like-on-something-on-facebook-how-much-thought-do-you-put-into-it/845536/14 "2019-12-30T20:30:18Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > I click Like if I like something. That’s about it. This. I don’t give a sh\*t about anything else. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicking-like-on-something-on-facebook-how-much-thought-do-you-put-into-it/845536/15 "2019-12-30T22:05:53Z")
I belong to a couple of FB “debate groups” which really isn’t a debate group. It’s just one big snark group wherein each side lobs snarky memes at each other. I vent all my frustrations on that page (friends can’t see what you post in groups) while keeping my personal page politics free. ---
**Author:** ![Majestic\_Lee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Majestic\_Lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Majestic_Lee)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicking-like-on-something-on-facebook-how-much-thought-do-you-put-into-it/845536/16 "2019-12-30T23:05:09Z")
I don’t click “Like” on anything on Facebook, you never know who’s watching. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicking-like-on-something-on-facebook-how-much-thought-do-you-put-into-it/845536/17 "2019-12-30T23:26:15Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > I view Facebook as a social obligation, like grooming among chimps. Close family member? Definitely click Like. Pleasant acquaintance? Click Like but not every post. Attractive female non-family? Click, but _not too often_. My niece who has never liked any of my posts, and whose frequent posts are indecipherable anyway? _Never._ Easy-peasy. Pretty much this. Except I only like “original personal content”, as jophiel describes it, and exclude almost all politics, even if it’s your original thought. Photo of your kid doing something cute? A cake you decorated? “Like” (unless this is the fourth photo of your kid today.). Photo of your vacation? Close family member? Like. Pleasant acquaintance? Click like, but not every post. Your father is dying? Click the little heart icon. Even if you are a casual acquaintance. A political rant? Just move on. Some shared meme? Just move on. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicking-like-on-something-on-facebook-how-much-thought-do-you-put-into-it/845536/18 "2019-12-30T23:48:25Z")
I very rarely do it. I definitely put a lot of thought into whether I want others seeing me like something. Basically I like things that I want everyone to see, which is rare. If a pic gets a like from me, it’s because it’s a really good pic. And, more likely, the like is going to be more specific, with one of the other emotions.