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How Scoring Works

We believe in transparency. Here's exactly how we measure and rank kindness on Tatau.

Reaction Types & Points

When you react to someone's post, you're contributing to their Ripple Score. Different reactions carry different weight because they represent different levels of engagement:

Appreciate

+1 point — A simple acknowledgment that you valued the post.

Me Too

+2 points — The post helped you feel less alone. Connection matters.

Inspired

+5 points — The highest honor. You were moved to share how this post inspired you (requires a note explaining how).

Bonus Points

Geographic Reach

+3 points — When someone from a new country reacts to your post for the first time. Kindness crossing borders!

Inspired Action

+15 points — The ultimate ripple: when someone creates their own post inspired by yours. Your kindness literally sparked new kindness.

How We Order the Feed

You can sort posts three different ways, each with a distinct purpose:

Recent

Simple chronological order. Newest posts first.

Most Impact (Ripple)

Sorted by total Ripple Impact score. Shows posts that have made the biggest cumulative difference.

Trending

Balances engagement with recency using a time-decay formula:

score = engagement ÷ √(hours + 2)

Where engagement = appreciates + (inspired × 5) + (me_too × 2)

This means newer posts can rank high with fewer reactions, while older posts need sustained engagement to stay visible. It's the same algorithm used by Hacker News.

Ripple Score vs Post Impact

Ripple Score (User)

Your personal cumulative score across all your posts and interactions. It grows as people engage with your content and as you engage with others (+1 point for each reaction you give).

Total Ripple Impact (Post)

Each individual post has its own impact score—the sum of all points earned from reactions to that specific post.

Our Philosophy

Traditional social media optimizes for engagement at any cost—controversy, outrage, and division drive clicks. We've designed our scoring system to reward meaningful positive impact:

  • Inspired reactions are weighted 5x because they represent genuine transformation.
  • Geographic reach is rewarded because kindness that crosses cultures and borders is especially meaningful.
  • Inspired posts (ripple chains) get the highest bonus because creating new kindness is the ultimate goal.