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# On Facebook, Likes, and Uncertainty
- URL: https://www.philsimon.com/on-facebook-likes-and-uncertainty/
- Published: 2011-12-15T11:59:19.000Z
- Updated: 2025-12-30T02:54:13.000Z
- Description: Those looking for definitive proof can keep looking.
- Author: Phil Simon
- Tags: Platforms, Facebook/Meta, Frenemies, Google, LinkedIn, The Age of the Platform

These days, you can hardly go to a website without seeing integration with Facebook--specifically, that near ubiquitous Like button.

But you won't find it on the main Google page (although sharing on Facebook via [Google Reader](https://www.google.com/reader/?ref=philsimon.com) is still possible).

Interestingly, LinkedIn seems to have forged a partnership with Twitter—or at least seems to think that there's not sufficient overlap between the two services that including a "powered by Twitter" doesn't pose a major threat.

Again, no Like button.

The cost of omitting the Like button: making it harder for users to share their favorite stories on the world's largest social network. The benefit: ostensibly keeping users on the "home" platform for a little while longer.

Are the costs greater than the benefits? In the Age of the Platform, who knows? Those looking for definitive proof can keep looking.

Embrace uncertainty.