Like a fan page, instead of become a fan
I’ve always found word choice interesting because it can indicate so much about what motivates someone to do something. Evidently Facebook does as well, because they are changing the wording for joining a fan page from “Become A Fan” to “like”. I’m not sure this is the best move and I’ll explain why.
It might seem a good idea to use the word like as an indicator that you like a fan page, but I can’t help think of a conversation an associate and I had, where he told me that he’d been given the advice to get on Facebook and make lots of friends, which struck him as somewhat bad advice, because what he wanted was a distinct and different profile for his friends and family and a business page for his fans.
When we use the word like it generally can denote a belief of liking something, or someone and in the case of someone wanting to be liked back. The problem, in the internet universe, with the word friend or the word like comes down to a realization that people form more personal attachments meanings to those words than they do to fan, which means that while they might become a fan of your personal there is awareness that being a fan doesn’t automatically make you a friend. When the word like is used however, there is a connotation of more personal connection. In fact, this issue has been raised before because Facebook only allows people to like statuses. So you can’t dislike anything written, which may of course spare some feelings, but ultimately creates an artificial sense of closeness as well.
What do you think? Should Facebook stick with “Become a Fan” or switch to “like”?
Categories: social influence, Social Media
Tags: facebook, fanpages, like and dislike, Taylor Ellwood
Thanks for sharing your perspective with me. So if anything what Facebook is doing is diluting the effect, at least for both of you, and possibly more.
I agree with Plewman. Become a fan carries a heavier connotation than 'like'. I feel to Become a fan means you have an attachment to it, such as a sports team. Whereas when I say I 'like' something it could just be from my 'friend' saying something amusing.
In your opinion, what makes like less engaging?
I disagree, to say you 'like' something is engaging less than becoming a fan which a longer and more committed statement
I agree. And the problem is numbers alone isn't really good quality.
"Become a Fan" is much more clear about what is happening - but I noticed Facebook does whatever they want. They perhaps think "Like" will generate more people, and to me, they only care about numbers, not quality.
Taylor, I agree that it's a bad move. "Become a fan" implies joining with something -- not necessarily membership, but changing your state somehow (you weren't a fan, but now you are). It's like stating your allegiance for all to see. Liking is more general, passive and fleeting. You can like just about anything on FB (comment, status, photo, etc), so it's not distinct the way becoming a fan is.
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