Fabo (Favoriting Posts)
"Fabo" (ふぁぼ) is a classic Japanese social media slang term derived from the English word "Favorite," representing the act of favoriting or liking a post on Twitter (now X) during its early years.
Although Twitter changed the star button to a heart "Like" in 2015, the verb "Faboru" (to favorite) remains in use among veteran net users.
- Linguistic Portmanteau: The pronunciation of "Favorite" (Favo) was turned into a Japanese verb, "Faboru," by adding the standard verb ending "ru."
- Survival After UI Update: Evolved as a badge of honor for early Twitter adopters who preferred the star icon over the heart symbol.
- Bookmarks for Reading Later: Used not only to express agreement but also as a personal bookmarking utility.
Why "Fabo" Remains Active Long After the Star Icon Disappeared
In the early days of Twitter, users had three choices: Reply, Retweet, or Favorite. Japanese users shortened "Favorite" to "Fabo" and created the verb "Faboru." When Twitter changed the icon to a heart in 2015, many veteran users kept using the old term out of habit and nostalgia, keeping "Fabo" alive in the digital vocabulary.
Typical Scenarios and Practical Dialogue
User A: "That funny trivia post I published got a lot of likes from our group."
User B: "Yeah, I saw it on my feed and fabo-ed it immediately. I wanted to save it."
The Old Star Favorite (Fabo) vs. The Modern Heart Like
| Aspect | Old Twitter Favorite (Fabo) | Modern Heart Like |
|---|---|---|
| Icon Graphic | Gold Star (★) | Red Heart (♥) |
| Social Meaning | Personal archive; saving a post for later reference | Showing support, agreement, or checking off a read post |
| User Base | Adopters from before 2015; heavy forum posters | General social media audience (smartphone era) |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What does the term "Fabo-ma" (ふぁぼ魔) mean?A: It refers to a user who likes almost every post they see on their timeline, often without reading them carefully. It is equivalent to a "serial liker."
Proper Etiquette and Guidelines
Avoid liking posts about sad events like family demises, as it can be misinterpreted as celebrating their misfortune. Send a message of support instead.
About "Fabo (Favoriting Posts)"
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