Like Button for a Comment

[David Carr]

Many of my members are asking for a "like" button for comments like on Facebook.  Can we expect this on Ning networks in the near future? 

[Eric Suesz]

It's something we've considered, but we haven't committed to building it yet.

[Col]

I think you should strongly consider it. "Likes" help to improve the quality of the discourse in a forum situation because it encourages people to make valuable contributions. Most other forum platforms (that display posts in chronological order) have implemented "likes", because it allows lurkers/non-posters to add weight to the posts that speak the mind of the "silent majority".

My two biggest wishes for an improved Ning are "likes" and "go to first unread". They're the only two things tempting me to try a different platform, because in every other respect, Ning has worked really well.

[arden townsend]

We have had alot of members say that to us also. They said on the home page we can hit LIKE to some things, but it would be great to hit LIKE to replys.

[David Carr]

This should be very easy feature to add ... it's a great feature for the pure lurker that reads every comment ...

[arden townsend]

I agree because I can see who is online, and when I have talked to the people they will bring up subjects listed in the past, but I never realized they read. They are the ones who did say having the like button would be nice just to show they awknowledge the conversation or reply.

Honestly though I am not a computer expert, so am unsure how easily such a program would be to add

[TJ @ jQueryHelp]

I have been asked to look into building this for a client.  My answer was, it can be done with code and a database hosted externally. 

Ning seems to provide a unique identifier on each comment and reply, so that replies in forums can be linked to (hover over any link icon before "Reply by") and so that other specific comments can be edited by Admins (you'll see the id in the edit link if you are an Admin).  So an app could identify each comment or reply and put a Like button somewhere in the comment/reply as well as a count of how may people Liked it.  It could also display Who liked it, as on FaceBook.

I haven't built the app yet but I feel it probably can be done.  If an NC really wants something like this and has money in their budget to have it made, they can contact me or another developer.  I imagine Ning will come out with this feature eventually, and then it will be nicely integrated into the Ning system and will not require any extra expense for you.

Best wishes!

"TJ"

[Sandra]

Hi TJ,

how much does it cost? We need a "Like" Button for comments, too.

Best wishes

Sandra