Twitter replaces favorites with likes

In the social media platform chess game, it feels like Twitter and Facebook slowly are merging into clones of one another. It’s always subtle—like when Facebook added hashtags, for example.

Now it’s Twitter’s turn again to do something oh-so-Facebookian. It has replaced its “Favorite” button with a cute little heart so that people can “Like” your tweet. Isn’t that what we do on Facebook, though?

Perhaps it’s a nod to Periscope, the live video streaming Twitter purchased in March before the app even launched. On Periscope, viewers can tap the screen when they like a portion of content and hearts appear.

I’ve had a lot of conversations about social media with a lot of people, and I can’t recall anyone ever having a beef with the favorite button, but Twitter’s trying to bounce back after slowing growth and declining revenue.

Here’s how the company announced the move:

You can say a lot with a heart. Introducing a new way to show how you feel on Twitter: https://t.co/WKBEmORXNW pic.twitter.com/G4ZGe0rDTP