ArghWebWorks

By “Social Verbs,” I mean how users of your social website “approve” of each other’s posts. Obviously, Facebook has the Like button (and they’re adding more). Two sites I’ve been using lately have switched to “give props” (Fitocracy) and “Healthy” as in “I find this healthy” (Runkeeper).

I can see why they chose different verbs, and I agree that it’s important to distance a site from Facebook (conceptually, although it’s also important to bring it closer to Facebook, it has a wide audience and they’re doing something right). However, “giving props” works very well on an instant thing (giving props for lifting 200 pounds), but “finding healthy” – I don’t think it works as well.

Pedantically, “Healthy” refers to a person, while “healthful” refers to a thing the person does (a healthful dinner). But more important to my point, “healthy/healthful” refers to an arc, a path- starting the Couch to 5K and dropping 20 pounds, that’s healthy. Running half a mile once a month, not so much.

Also, the voice is broken. I “like” your post on Facebook. I “give props” to you for your lift. I “find healthy” your run. Just doesn’t work.

I think leaving it as “like” would have been better. In fact, my “liking” posts has gone down on Runkeeper just because of what I’m mentioning above, which has the opposite effect from what the Runkeeper guys want. All social sites want to increase social actions. Choose your actions wisely, or people won’t be doing them.