Let me share a not-so-secret secret with you: I hesitate everytime I’m about to “like” something. Social media experts say the button is used as a way to catalog information we like, tabulating the kind of psychographics that make marketers squeal. Sociologists have described it as a way to assert our preferences, shaping our identities with each click. According to a recent Mashable article, Facebook developers believe “liking” something is more about sharing that info with the world.
I say it’s really about free stuff.
That and it’s the equivalent of a head nod or high-five to whatever someone else is saying. It’s an “I think that’s cool too, only I don’t care about it enough to type out some witty response.” Even then though, the decision to ‘like’ something can soon be overruled by a desire to avoid having your inbox flooded with 347 notifications that Jimmy, Susie and Bob’s Rent-o-Palooza also think that Friend X’s new job is super-mega-ultra awesome.
So really, it all comes down to the free stuff.
At least for me. If we’re being completely honest.
Now that virtually every major company has its own Facebook page, and they’re all clamoring to snag the highest number of fans possible, many are giving away all sorts of free products, just for clicking that little button. Before, you may have only listed swimming, tennis or cake as interests, but now, under the lure of free samples and insider info, it’s tempting to ‘like’ just about any company whose products you, well, like, or at least are mildly interested in trying out.
Hence my dilemma.
Do I “like” BumpIts just because I want to snag a free one so I can have the perfect pouf for my Snooki costume? Do I really want to clutter my friends’ newsfeeds with the announcement that I enjoy M&Ms — even if it means being the first to try the Pretzel variety?
In most cases, my answer is yes. Yes indeed — if the freebie is right.
Here are some of the latest promotions on Facebook. I’ll let you judge whether they’re truly likable.
MARCH 2011 DEALS, DISCOUNTS AND FREEBIES:
- Matrix Biolage conditioner sample
- Taco Bell Crunchy Taco (Thanks to Bargain Briana for cluing me in on this!)
- Cheez-Its sample
- Haagan-Dazs Midnight Dazzler — A cup full of chocolate ice cream, topped with swirls of whipped cream and chocolate syrup and loaded with what appears to be Oreo chunks (?)
- Aunt Jemima Frozen Breakfast
If you want to keep tabs on what’s free on Facebook, here are some great sites: