10 Reasons People Actually ‘like’ Your Facebook Updates

Perhaps the most easily recognized currency of Facebook is the “like.” Sad thing is, most of those “likes” are a farce. While you’re over there congratulating yourself on breaking double digit “likes” with your latest profile picture, someone else is sitting behind their computer, snickering about the reasons why they clicked the little blue thumb. With the exception of your mom, few people “like” your status update because they actually like it.

So what makes us like, or not like, a particular status, photo or page? Is there a method to liking? Here are some reasons why we like:

1. The Obligation Like

You liked my baby/cat/dinner picture so I am returning the favour by liking yours.

2. The Duty Like

You dutifully like everything your close friends and family post.

3. The Tactical Like

You want them to like your stuff back.

4. The Look At Me Like

You want to remind them of your existence. ‘We’ve been friends on here for five years yet no likes, comments, nothing. We worked together for three weeks, eight years ago for goodness sake – does that mean nothing to you?’

5. The Sympathy Like

A like given out of kindness when someone posts a really bad selfie.

6. The Try To Look Clever Like

Liking a highbrow article without reading it to make you look clever.

7. The Try To Look Cool Like

Liking a song someone is listening to in an attempt to look cool (when really you have no idea who ‘Autobahn’ are).

8. The Support Like

You like the Feline Fridge Magnets page without even looking at it because a mate asked you to.

9. The Sheep Like

Because 62 people who already like this status cannot be wrong.

10. The No Hard Feelings Like

When you like somebody’s status to show you have forgiven them following a previous Facebook debate.

12. The Accidental Like

When you accidentally like a picture of Kim Kardashian’s backside on your touchscreen phone and only realise a week later.