DEAR MISS MANNERS: I often get text alerts that my friend or family member "liked" my previous text message, along with the entire message repeated back to me. On group text threads, this can go on for a while, as I get everyone's messages repeated multiple times with each "like."
I did some research online and learned that certain types of phones have a fun feature that allows users to acknowledge texts by adding a thumbs-up or a heart. How nice. But for the rest of us who don't have this feature, it is REALLY ANNOYING.
I realize that part of the burden lies with the rest of us to gently inform our friends and family that this feature doesn't translate (do you have any advice on how to word this?), but would you be willing to help get the word out? People should reconsider before they hit "like" on every text.
GENTLE READER: Sure. How about, "Oh no, sorry I missed your birthday invitation. I'm afraid it got buried in the chain of 'likes' and repeated texts on my phone. I wonder if we could all verbally express our approval rather than use those buttons so that I don't miss any firsthand information."
And then Miss Manners suggests you turn off your phone -- if you want to avoid seeing your message countlessly liked and repeated.