Recommending: what points can do
Once you sign in, you get points every day to recommend the stories or events you think matter. Recommendations only show up on the Reader Picks board and the Reader Picks bar at the top of the page — they never change data rankings like Top stories, Surging on YouTube or Most discussed.
BoostRaise the story’s score on the Reader Picks board
- UpvoteFree+1 per tapTap repeatedly — up to 10 per story per day, with a combo animation
- Silver10 pts+5
- Fireworks20 pts+10Fireworks go off over the headline when you recommend it
- Gold40 pts+20
Where it shows up: The score appears to the right of each story on the Reader Picks board
PinJump straight to the top of the Reader Picks board
- Rocket60 ptsPinned for 30 minutes
- Big rocket120 ptsPinned for 1 hour
Where it shows up: At the top of the Reader Picks board, labeled “Pinned · 30 min left”
Reader Picks barAppear in the ticker at the top of every page
- Sports car250 ptsOn the Reader Picks bar for 1 hour
Where it shows up: The orange ticker at the top of the page — everyone sees it the moment they arrive
All weekNot available yet.
- Bullet train300 ptsIn “This Week’s Reader Picks” for a full weekAlso included in the weekly report
Where it shows up: “This Week’s Reader Picks” below the Reader Picks board
Lv3 onlyRequires Lv3
- PlaneLv3400 ptsSite-wide flyover for 20 minutesEveryone who visits during that time sees a plane fly by towing a banner with your name
- Super rocketLv3400 ptsPinned for 3 hoursDoesn’t count toward the 3-pin limit
AI race carLv3400 ptsOn the Reader Picks bar for 3 hoursShown first on the bar
Where it shows up: The plane flies across the whole screen; the Super rocket sits at the top of the Reader Picks board; the AI race car leads the ticker at the top of the page
- Each type of recommendation has one effect. Want two effects? Recommend twice.
- Stories you’ve recommended get a small icon after the headline — only you can see it.
- Points can’t be bought or transferred. You get them on your first visit each day, and they add up to your cap.