Medium: What Emotions Would You Assign to Claps?

On Engagement: Clap by clap, engagement is a cinch.

Photo by Ainara Oto on Unsplash

“Applause, in the ancient world, was acclamation. But it was also communication. It was, in its way, power. It was a way for frail little humans to recreate, through hands made “thunderous,” the rumbles and smashes of nature.” Megan Garber, the Atlantic

I propose the following as a way to make sense of Medium’s range of claps as a tool of engagement based on countless readings, comment reviews, and applause counts I have seen on the platform.

1–10

I like, or I am just being polite. On my portable devices, clicking on claps for more than 10 is a pain, I hope you understand!

11–20

I like this article and I acknowledge the writer in you.

20–30

I appreciate the effort you have made to teach, educate, or express an opinion.

30–40

I was aiming for 50.

40–50

I loved it. You hit all the sweet spots I care about.