Member-only story
The Subtle Art of Giving a Clap
It’s the best way to support stories you enjoy
I probably shouldn’t write this.
But here we go anyway.
At the risk of angering the algorithms, I’m going to say: Please give stories you like 50 claps!
I recently read a story here (which I can’t locate again) that said most people on this platform are readers and not writers. So it occurred to me that many you might not know you can clap a maximum of 50 times for a story.
Here’s how I see it.
If you’ve read something all the way to the end, then take the time to comment on it. Why wouldn’t you give the maximum amount of claps allowed?
Now, perhaps you do already know about the maximum amount of claps allowed, and you have an alternative reason.
Perhaps you’ve devised some sort of internal clap structure only known to you. For example:
- 1–10 = Meh
- 11–20 = Okay
- 21–30 = Decent
- 31–40 = Good
- 41–49 = Like
- 50 = LOVE!
Okay, that makes sense.
But how would a writer know the difference between 1 clap and 6 claps?
If you have such an internal structure, I recommend you post your rating system in your “About Me” story and pin it at the top of your profile.
Finally, so of you may fear out of claps.
If that’s you, allow me so assuage your fears. Medium doesn’t cap the amount of times you can clap in a day. The only cap it 50 per story!
Perhaps you just hold your finger on the button until it gets tired. I get that.
Did you know you can give your finger a rest, then go back and finish clapping? Even better, you don’t have to tap the button multiple times, you can just long-press and let it do its magic!
The Medium app even makes clapping enjoyable. When you press and hold the clap button, it gives you a satisfying little vibration haptic.
Most likely, you didn’t know you can give 50 claps per story.
However, your interaction with a story (including claps) figures into Medium’s ranking system and helps them decide how much the story should earn (it also plays into distribution). It’s not the only metric, but it is important.
So, if you thoroughly enjoy a story you read, why not show the author some love?
P.S. This story is supposed to be humorous. IYKYK.
