AP Spotlight SOCIAL MEDIA Like it or not, the Like button has changed the world MICHAEL LIEDTKE Associated Press May 24, 2025 May 24, 2025 Updated Nov 20, 2025 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save The internet wouldn't be the same without the Like button.kAm{:<6 :E @C ?@E[ :E D6CG65 2D 2 4C62E:G6 42E2=JDE[ 2 5@A2>:?6 56=:G6CJ DJDE6> 2?5 2? 6>@E:@?2= 32EE6C:?8 C2>] xE 2=D@ 3642>6 2? :?E6C?2E:@?2= E@FC:DE 2EEC24E:@? 27E6C u2463@@< A=2DE6C65 E96 DJ>3@= @? 2 8:2?E D:8? E92E DE@@5 @FED:56 :ED $:=:4@? '2==6J 9625BF2CE6CD F?E:= E96 4@>A2?J C63C2?565 :ED6=7 2D |6E2 !=2E7@C>D :? a_a`]k^AmkAmp ?6H 3@@<[ Q{:<6i %96 qFEE@? %92E r92?865 %96 (@C=5[Q 56=G6D :?E@ E96 4@?G@=FE65 DE@CJ 369:?5 E96 DJ>3@=]k^Am kAmx? E96 62C=J a`DE 46?EFCJ[ E649?@=@8J EC2:=3=2K6CD DF49 2D *6=A 4@\7@F?56C #FDD $:>>@?D[ %H:EE6C 4@\7@F?56C q:K $E@?6[ !2J!2= 4@\7@F?56C |2I {6G49:?[ *@F%F36 4@\7@F?56C $E6G6 r96? 2?5 v>2:= :?G6?E@C !2F= qF4996:E 6IA6C:>6?E65 H:E9 5:776C6?E H2JD @7 FD:?8 E96 4FCC6?4J @7 C64@8?:E:@? E@ AC@5 A6@A=6 E@ A@DE 4@>A6==:?8 4@?E6?E @?=:?6 7@C 7C66]k^Am People are also reading… Man "involved in a shooting" Friday evening found, McDowell sheriff's office says Marion man charged after 200 grams of cocaine found in search of home near school Compassion Care Services in Marion celebrates opening; provides services for adults with disabilities Owner of Old Fort's Stuckey’s, Dairy Queen hopes to reopen as soon as possible after fire Marion man arrested, charged in Friday shooting in McDowell County that injured one McDowell County leaders hear updates, concerns about 2027 property value reappraisal Marion man charged with assaulting woman and sheriff's lieutenant Amtrak’s western North Carolina expansion: Bringing passenger rail back to Asheville and beyond McDowell County nonprofit seeking grant to help incarcerated parents and their children Author of book on lost NC towns coming to downtown Marion for Women’s History Month US housing secretary, congressman visit Marion to talk about Clinchfield apartment project Old Fort’s B Side Bakery & Books offers fresh made breads, books and more Former reality TV star Jessie Holmes repeats as champion of the grueling Iditarod sled dog race James Haney, historian and 'Southern gentleman,' remembered for devotion to McDowell County history Marion dam gets $2.7 million for repairs; dam behind condemned Westwood Chateau apartments kAm$F49 4@?E6?E H@F=5 96=A >2<6 E96D6 D:E6D 6G6? >@C6 A@AF=2C H:E9@FE 7@C4:?8 E96 4@>A2?:6D E@ DA6?5 2 =@E @7 >@?6J] %92E 677@CE C6BF:C65 2 7665324< =@@A E92E H@F=5?VE C6BF:C6 2 =@E @7 9@@AD E@ ?2G:82E6]k^Am kAmpD A2CE @7 E92E ?@@5=:?8[ 2 *6=A 6>A=@J66 ?2>65 q@3 v@@5D@? D2E 5@H? |2J `g[ a__d[ 2?5 5C6H 2 4CF56 D<6E49 @7 E9F>3D\FA 2?5 E9F>3D\5@H? 86DEFC6D 2D 2 H2J 7@C A6@A=6 E@ 6IAC6DD E96:C @A:?:@?D 23@FE C6DE2FC2?E C6G:6HD A@DE65 @? E96 D:E6]k^AmkAm*6=A :?DE625 25@AE65 E96 QFD67F=[Q Q7F??JQ 2?5 Q4@@=Q 3FEE@?D 4@?46:G65 3J $:>>@?D[ 3FE E96 5:D4@G6CJ @7 E92E @=5 D<6E49 :?DA:C65 v@@5D@? E@ E62> FA H:E9 |2CE:? #66G6D E@ 6IA=@C6 9@H E96 {:<6 3FEE@? 42>6 E@ 36 :? E96:C ?6H 3@@<]k^Am kAmQxEVD D@>6E9:?8 D:>A=6 2?5 2=D@ 6=682?E 3642FD6 E96 {:<6 3FEE@? D2JD[ Vx =:<6 J@F[ x =:<6 J@FC 4@?E6?E] p?5 x 2> =:<6 J@F] x =:<6 J@F 3642FD6 x 2> =:<6 J@F[ x 2> A2CE @7 J@FC EC:36[VQ #66G6D D2:5 5FC:?8 2? :?E6CG:6H H:E9 %96 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD] QqFE :EVD G6CJ 92C5 E@ 2?DH6C E96 D:>A=6 BF6DE:@?[ V(6==[ H9@ :?G6?E65 E96 {:<6 3FEE@?nVQk^Am k9am$@4:2= H6==DAC:?8k^9amkAm%9@F89 u2463@@< :D E96 >2:? C62D@? E96 {:<6 3FEE@? 3642>6 D@ F3:BF:E@FD[ E96 4@>A2?J 5:5?VE :?G6?E :E 2?5 :E H2D?VE E96 3C2:?49:=5 @7 2 D:?8=6 A6CD@?] %96 4@?46AE A6C4@=2E65 7@C >@C6 E92? 2 564256 :? $:=:4@? '2==6J 367@C6 u2463@@< 7:?2==J 6>3C2465 :E]k^Am kAmqJ a__f[ u2463@@< 6?8:?66CD H6C6 E:?<6C:?8 H:E9 2 {:<6 3FEE@?[ 3FE rt~ |2C< +F4<6C36C8 @AA@D65 :E 3642FD6 96 762C65 E96 D@4:2= ?6EH@C< H2D 86EE:?8 E@@ 4=FEE6C65 2?5[ #66G6D D2:5[ Q96 5:5?VE 24EF2==J H2?E E@ 5@ D@>6E9:?8 E92E H@F=5 36 D66? 2D EC:G:2=[ E92E H@F=5 4962A6? E96 D6CG:46]Qk^Am kAmxE E@@< u2463@@< ?62C=J EH@ J62CD E@ @G6C4@>6 +F4<6C36C8VD DE2F?49 C6D:DE2?46[ 7:?2==J :?EC@5F4:?8 E96 DJ>3@= @? :ED D6CG:46 @? u63CF2CJ h[ a__h — 7:G6 J62CD 27E6C E96 D@4:2= ?6EH@C<VD 4C62E:@? :? 2 w2CG2C5 &?:G6CD:EJ 5@C> C@@>]k^AmkAmQx??@G2E:@? :D @7E6? D@4:2= 2?5 $:=:4@? '2==6J H2D E96 C:89E A=246 7@C 2== E9:D E@ 92AA6? 3642FD6 :E 92D 2 4F=EFC6 @7 >66EFAD[ 2=E9@F89 :EVD =6DD D@ ?@H[Q #66G6D D2:5] QtG6CJ@?6 H2D 86EE:?8 E@86E96C E@ E2=< 23@FE H92E E96J H6C6 H@C<:?8 @? 2E E92E E:>6 2?5 :E EFC?65 @FE 2 =@E @7 E96> H6C6 H@C<:?8 @? E96 D2>6 DEF77]Qk^Am k9amw@==JH@@5VD C@=6k^9amkAm(96? v@@5D@? H2D ?@@5=:?8 2C@F?5 H:E9 9:D E9F>3D\FA 2?5 E9F>3D\5@H? 86DEFC6[ :E 5:5?VE 4@>6 @FE @7 2 G24FF>] %9@D6 E649?:BF6D @7 D:8?2=:?8 2AAC@G2= 2?5 5:D2AAC@G2= H6C6 FD96C65 :?E@ E96 a`DE 46?EFCJ K6:E86:DE 3J E96 p4256>J pH2C5\H:??:?8 >@G:6[ Qv=25:2E@C[Q H96C6 t>A6C@C r@>>@5FD — A@CEC2J65 3J 24E@C y@2BF:? !9@6?:I — FD65 E96 86DEFC6D E@ 6:E96C DA2C6 @C D=2J 4@>32E2?ED :? E96 2C6?2]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kAm%96 A@D:E:G6 766=:?8D 4@?;FC65 3J 2 E9F>3D\FA 52E6 7FCE96C 324< :? A@AF=2C 4F=EFC6[ E92?<D E@ E96 `hd_D\6C2 492C24E6C u@?K:6 A=2J65 3J w6?CJ (:?<=6C :? E96 E@A\C2E65 `hf_D %' D6C:6D Qw2AAJ s2JD]Qk^Am kAm%96 86DEFC6 =2E6C 3642>6 2 H2J @7 6IAC6DD:?8 56=:89E H:E9 2 AC@8C2> G:2 2 C6>@E6 4@?EC@= 3FEE@? 7@C E96 5:8:E2= G:56@ C64@C56CD >256 3J %:'~ 5FC:?8 E96 62C=J a___D] p3@FE E96 D2>6 E:>6[ w@E @C }@E — 2 D:E6 E92E D@=:4:E65 7665324< @? E96 =@@<D @7 A6@A=6 H9@ D92C65 A9@E@D @7 E96>D6=G6D — 3682? A=2J:?8 2C@F?5 H:E9 :562D E92E 96=A65 :?DA:C6 E96 {:<6 3FEE@?[ 32D65 @? E96 3@@<VD C6D62C49]k^Am kAm~E96CD E92E 4@?EC:3FE65 E@ E96 A@@= @7 96=A7F= :562D :?4=F565 E96 A:@?66C:?8 ?6HD D6CG:46 s:88[ E96 3=@88:?8 A=2E7@C> )2?82[ *@F%F36 2?5 2?@E96C 62C=J G:56@ D:E6[ ':>6@]k^Am Adobe Stock k9amq:8 3C62<E9C@F89k^9amkAmu2463@@< F?BF6DE:@?23=J EFC?65 E96 {:<6 3FEE@? :?E@ 2 F?:G6CD2==J F?56CDE@@5 DJ>3@=[ H9:=6 AC@7:E:?8 E96 >@DE 7C@> :ED 6?EC2?46 :?E@ E96 >2:?DEC62>]k^Am kAmuC:6?5u665[ 2 C:G2= D@4:2= ?6EH@C< 4C62E65 3J qF4996:E 2?5 ?@H ~A6?px r92:C>2? qC6E %2J=@C[ F?G6:=65 :ED @H? {:<6 3FEE@? :? ~4E@36C a__f] xE H2D?VE DF446DD7F= 6?@F89 E@ <66A E96 =:89ED @? 2E uC:6?5u665[ 2?5 E96 D6CG:46 H2D 24BF:C65 3J u2463@@<] qJ E96 E:>6 E92E 562= H2D 4@>A=6E65[ u2463@@< 2=C625J :?EC@5F465 :ED {:<6 3FEE@? — @?=J 27E6C +F4<6C36C8 C63F7765 E96 @C:8:?2= :562 @7 42==:?8 :E 2? pH6D@>6 3FEE@? Q3642FD6 ?@E9:?8 :D >@C6 2H6D@>6 E92? 2H6D@>6[Q 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 3@@<VD C6D62C49]k^Am kAm~?46 +F4<6C36C8 C6=6?E65[ u2463@@< BF:4<=J D2H E92E E96 {:<6 3FEE@? ?@E @?=J 96=A65 <66A :ED 2F5:6?46 6?82865 @? :ED D@4:2= ?6EH@C< 3FE 2=D@ >256 :E 62D:6C E@ 5:G:?6 A6@A=6VD :?5:G:5F2= :?E6C6DED 2?5 82E96C E96 :?D:89ED C6BF:C65 E@ D6== E96 E2C86E65 25G6CE:D:?8 E92E 244@F?E65 7@C >@DE @7 |6E2 !=2E7@C>VD S`ed 3:==:@? :? C6G6?F6 =2DE J62C]k^AmkAm%96 3FEE@?VD DF446DD 6?4@FC2865 u2463@@< E@ E2<6 E9:?8D 6G6? 7FCE96C 3J 2==@H:?8 @E96C 5:8:E2= D6CG:46D E@ :?8C2:? :E :?E@ E96:C 7665324< =@@AD 2?5[ :? a_`e[ :E 25565 D:I >@C6 EJA6D @7 6>@E:@?Di Q=@G6[Q Q42C6[Q Q9292[Q QH@H[Q QD25[Q 2?5 Q2?8CJ]Qk^Am kAmu2463@@< 92D?VE AF3=:4=J 5:D4=@D65 9@H >2?J C6DA@?D6D :E 244F>F=2E65 7C@> E96 {:<6 3FEE@? 2?5 :ED @E96C C6=2E65 @AE:@?D[ 3FE {6G49:? E@=5 E96 3@@<VD 2FE9@CD E92E 96 36=:6G6D E96 4@>A2?J AC@323=J =@8865 EC:==:@?D @7 E96>] Q(92E 4@?E6?E :D =:<65 3J 9F>2?D … :D AC@323=J @?6 @7 E96 D:?8F=2C=J >@DE G2=F23=6 E9:?8D @? E96 :?E6C?6E[Q {6G49:? D2:5 :? E96 3@@<]k^Am kAm%96 {:<6 3FEE@? 2=D@ 4C62E65 6>@E:@?2= AC@3=6>D[ 6DA64:2==J 2>@?8 25@=6D46?ED[ H9@ 766= 7@C=@C? :7 E96:C A@DED 2C6 :8?@C65[ 2?5 ?2C4:DD:DED[ H9@D6 68@D 762DE @? E96 A@D:E:G6 7665324<] #66G6D G:6HD E9@D6 :DDF6D 2D A2CE @7 E96 F?:?E6?E:@?2= 4@?D6BF6?46D E92E :?6G:E23=J 92AA6? 3642FD6 Q:7 J@F 42?VE 6G6? AC65:4E E96 36?67:4:2= 67764ED @7 2 E649?@=@8:42= :??@G2E:@? 9@H 4@F=5 J@F A@DD:3=J 7@C642DE E96 D:56 67764ED 2?5 E96 :?E6CG6?E:@?DnQk^Am kAmtG6? D@[ #66G6D 36=:6G6D E96 {:<6 3FEE@? 2?5 E96 7@C46D E92E 4@2=6D465 E@ 4C62E6 :E E2AA65 :?E@ D@>6E9:?8 F?:BF6=J 9F>2?]k^AmkAm“(6 E9@F89E D6C6?5:A:EJ @7 E96 :??@G2E:@? H2D A2CE @7 E96 A@:?E[” 96 D2:5] “p?5 x 5@?’E E9:?< H6 42? 86E 3@C65 H:E9 =:<:?8 @C 92G:?8 @FC 42A24:EJ E@ 4@>A=:>6?E E2<6? 2H2J D@ 62D:=J 3642FD6 :E’D E96 AC@5F4E @7 `__[___ J62CD @7 6G@=FE:@?]”k^Am Business World Video Game Hall of Fame inducts Defender, Tamagotchi, GoldenEye 007 and Quake ASSOCIATED PRESS Travel Oregon man goes viral after quitting job to sail the Pacific with his cat JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER Associated Press Education Liam and Olivia dominate — again — with top baby names for a sixth year in a row FATIMA HUSSEIN Associated Press 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story 3 ways to stop feeling so awkward in videos Here are some tips on how to sound natural and authentic on camera. The Digital Equity Act tried to close the digital divide. Trump calls it racist and acts to end it A federal government initiative that helps people access the internet is in jeopardy after President Trump said he will end the Digital Equity Act. Watch Now: Related Video White House offers concessions as DHS funding impasse drags on No, dolphins didn’t kidnap a Florida man. Fake, viral story explained No, dolphins didn’t kidnap a Florida man. Fake, viral story explained United Farm Workers skips Cesar Chavez Day events amid allegations United Farm Workers skips Cesar Chavez Day events amid allegations Spring Break Sticker Shock: How Rising Oil Prices Are Hitting Travelers Spring Break Sticker Shock: How Rising Oil Prices Are Hitting Travelers Recommended for you
Business World Video Game Hall of Fame inducts Defender, Tamagotchi, GoldenEye 007 and Quake ASSOCIATED PRESS
Travel Oregon man goes viral after quitting job to sail the Pacific with his cat JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER Associated Press
Education Liam and Olivia dominate — again — with top baby names for a sixth year in a row FATIMA HUSSEIN Associated Press
3 ways to stop feeling so awkward in videos Here are some tips on how to sound natural and authentic on camera.
The Digital Equity Act tried to close the digital divide. Trump calls it racist and acts to end it A federal government initiative that helps people access the internet is in jeopardy after President Trump said he will end the Digital Equity Act.
