Three reactions, three meanings
Stanza doesn't have a like button. It has three reactions, each with its own meaning, so readers can say something more precise than "liked".
Cheer
"Bravo." A cheer is everyday applause, the standard way to show you enjoyed a piece. Cheer as often as you like.
Encore
"This stayed with me." An Encore is a rare standing ovation. You get 8 a month (15 with Stanza Pro), so spending one says a great deal. See "The Encore System".
Tomato
"This one didn't land for me." A Tomato is an honest, gentle signal that a piece missed, not an insult and not a pile-on. Tomatoes are never shown publicly by name. See "Who Reacted: Interaction Lists".
You can give more than one
Reactions aren't either/or. Each type is separate, so you can Cheer and Encore the same poem if it delighted and moved you. Tap a reaction again to take it back. Taking back an Encore doesn't refund it, and Stanza asks you to confirm before you do.
How to react
- Tap a reaction to give it. A short animation plays when you do.
- Press and hold a reaction to see what it means, how many people gave it, whether you have, and (for Encore) your remaining budget and when it resets.
- On a phone, the Stage keeps your reactions along the edge of the screen, within reach of your thumb.
What you can react to
- Poems: Cheer, Encore and Tomato.
- Replies and margin notes: Cheer and Tomato. Encores are saved for the works themselves.
- Podcast episodes: Cheer, Encore and Tomato.
- Lists: Cheer and Tomato. Lists don't take Encores, which are reserved for creative work rather than curation.
- Poets: Cheer only, on their profile, as a cheer for them as a poet.
See "Reacting to Lists, Episodes and Poets" for more.
Who sees your reactions
Everyone sees the counts, and counts are the same for everyone. Whether your name appears depends on your choices under Settings › Privacy › Who sees what you do. If you've chosen to be hidden, you're still counted, shown as "and N others". See "Who Sees What You Do".
Why reactions matter
- For poets: reactions are feedback, and Encores especially are a sign that a piece reached someone.
- For readers: your reactions teach your For You feed what you enjoy, and what you don't.
- For the community: reactions help good work rise in Trending and Discover.
When reactions are switched off
A poet can turn off reactions on a piece, and some poems are only open to certain readers. If you can't react to something, it's usually one of those.
Hold any reaction to read what it means. It's the quickest way to learn the difference between a Cheer and an Encore.