Distinctions Between Facebook 'Like,' 'Share' and 'Recommend'

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Nothing stands between a Facebook "Like" and a "Recommend." The two buttons are programmed in exactly the same way, and clicking either one on an article will do the same thing - post it to your profile.

When web programmers embed a Facebook Like/Recommend button in their sites, they're given the option to choose between the two words. News websites tend to choose the more neutral "Recommend." The thinking is that readers might not be inclined to "Like" a story that tells bad news, but would still "Recommend" it to their friends. Most other sites use "Like."

"Share" is the older sister to "Like" and "Recommend." And she's dying. Programmed in a less convenient way, "Share" is still an option for embedding into websites, but it's becoming defunct and certainly less popular than its newer counterparts. Analysts say this is because sharing feels like work, while liking and recommending seem like play.

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