Facebook officially deprecated the share button in favor of the like button earlier this year. A few days ago, I realized that the share button no longer displays on sites I manage. Trying to figure out what could be wrong, I checked those sites using a different browser and it was the same. Still in doubt, I used a different PC and even checked other websites just to be sure.
Across the web, a certain version of Facebook share button stopped working. The Share Button has been deprecated already a while ago but not yet completely dead. If it stops working on your website or blog, you only need to update your code.
Facebook deprecated the Share button on February 28, which means they no longer recommend its use in applications or on external web sites. Also, a certain version of Facebook share button was deprecated several years ago, and Facebook switched to serving the new JS SDK in its place on Monday, July 16. Perhaps the old one will be brought back to life later, but then I guess it’s time to upgrade to the new version. Support has already been dropped for it so there’s no point complaining to Facebook.
How to fix your share button
I prefer using the share button because it lets me share to my fan pages, unlike the like button which Facebook now favors. I found three fixes to this which I think should do the trick.
1. Using the official JD SDK version
- Search for <html, leave a space and add xmlns:fb=”http://ogp.me/ns/fb#” just after it. The resulting code should lok like this:
If this is already there, you don’t need to do it again.
- In the body of your website where you want the code to display, paste this:
<script>(function(d, s, id) {
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) return;
js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1&appId=YOUR_APP_ID"; // appId must be valid
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script>
<fb:share-button type="box_count">
</fb:share-button>
Hey, make sure you change these parameters for the code to work:
*** YOUR_APP_ID – You must create a facebook application for this code to work. Don’t know how? I explained it on steps 1 and 2 of this post.
*** You can change box_count to button_count if you want a smaller button instead of the large one with counter.
You can use the demo above to see its perfectly working, you only need to follow the steps and do it right.
2. Using Sharethis button
If you don’t want to mess around with these codes and just need a quick way to get it done, you can consider using Sharethis share buttons. I think they have a plugin for WordPress and if you’re adding it to your website, you’re allowed to customize the look and feel of the button before generating the code.
Implementing the code isn’t that hard either, you only need to place the right code in the head section and the other one in the body section where you want the share button to appear. See the share buttons displayed below this post? It’s from Sharethis.
3. Using the share bookmarklet
If you don’t own a website and only need a way to share any page on Facebook real fast, this is just what you need. Even if the page doesn’t have a share button, you can still share it anyway as you just need to install the share button on your browser.
Drag me to your Bookmarks Bar to quickly share any web page with your friends, even when you’re not on Facebook.
If you can’t see the Bookmarks Bar, Choose “Show Bookmarks Bar” from the View menu.
After you drag the button to the Bookmarks Bar, it will look like this.
Either of these three fixes should get you sharing on Facebook again. Personally, I prefer it to the like button and I wish it’s not being deprecated.
Don’t you think “share” buttons are a thing of the past now? In my blog, we use the “Like” button alone, which has a nifty little feature that suggests users to share the story they had just “liked”. Personally, I don’t share articles to my facebook, but who doesn’t care to leave a simple “like”
I think its enough for facebook engagement.
Jyothis Thaliath recently posted..WordPress.com or WordPress.org: Which is the one for you??
Well, the “like” button does what needs to be done bu I use the share button a lot. It allows me to share articles on my 4 fan pages and other Facebook groups. The “like” button doesn’t allow that. But then again, it all comes down to a matter of personal taste… I kinda like the share button more
Twitter: udegbunamchuks
says:
Thanks for the tutorial man but I just noticed that this Share button is counting Likes. The FB share button shows 11 shares for this post while the Sharethis button is showing 31 shares. same applies to my site too.
Can you explain that abeg?
Udegbunam Chukwudi recently posted..How To Install Google Play Store On Unsupported Android Phones
The pleasure’s mine, bro. That’s because sharethis button shares a shortened url of ur post ( somthing like http://shar.es/tE3C3 ), not the original permalink. That’s why the counters are different.
Don, I think there is some other reason. I’m pretty sure your solution here works fine, but it just shows the number of “Likes”, not “Shares.” I was using ShareThis, but it slows things down, and they don’t allow the Share box to be in a popup box, only a whole new window/tab.
I, for the life of me, can’t figure out why Facebook has discontinued the Share button. On some articles, people want to “Share”, but not “Like” – for example, if it is an article about someone passing away.
Would love your solution if it showed the “Share” number, not the “Like” number. I tested it out on a post of mine that obviously had more Shares than Likes (according to the blog post title, and also according to the ShareThis numbers on it), but it still showed the Like number beside the Share button.
I think Facebook actually uses the same count for likes and shares. Sharethis count differs because it doesn’t share your real permalink, it only shares a shortened form of it (something like http://shar.es/5RnZV). That’s why Sharethis Facebook share count and the official Facebook share count differs. The regular Facebook share button and like button uses the same counter (I think).
will this going to work inside a facebook tab app?
I’m not sure, Jayvee, but you can still try.
Twitter: TotoSalCom
says:
Nice Post . Great admin
Twitter: rhipplebrand
says:
Sup Don, how its all good. Your blog is cool. My facebook “like” “send” and “share” stopped working. I applied the fix still it wasn’t fixed. Please help. Thanx
You may want to check this – http://www.doncaprio.com/2012/08/how-to-add-a-stylish-set-of-share-buttons-to-blogger-wordpress.html#comment-11152
I prefer the share button, but I want the like button too!
What plugin you have under your posts? Looks like that offers both.I dislike the floating side bar one,so distracting.
I got the button from http://www.sharethis.com but customized it with CSS and added manually though.
My sites was showing Like earlier. Out of the sudden, the word changes to Share instead. I notice if I logout my facebook, then the Like Button will show the word Like. If I login to my facebook, the word change to ‘Share’.
Sample http://cl.ly/image/0d1A3P2u3d3g
The site is http://www.evisaasia.com/news
I guess Facebook did another update to this thing again.
It works good but how can I put the count box to the right of the share button? Also can I change the “share” text?
thank you for your article.
It’s very useful for me.
Hi Don, you article’s great.. and I used it on my site a few days ago.. but now suddenly you find that the ‘share’ button disappears after about a few minutes or sometimes even after a refresh.
I find that happening on your demo button here too.. Any idea what’s goin on ?
Hi Don,
Very useful post.. Put in on my website a few days back.. works great! but apparently now the button disappears after a few minutes.. you can also see that happening on the demo button here.. leave the page open for some time and you’ll see.. Any updates ?
I just noticed that too. Wondering if Facebook messed things up from their end again. I’ll see if it can be fixed, Sham, but there’s no update right now.
Twitter: androideverblog
says:
nice tips, I was getting the share button not working, now I could fix the problem, thanks for the post
Twitter: donemitex1
says:
Don Thanks for this post. i just implemented the second option on sales page i was designing and it worked like magic. My only problem is that the buttons are aligned to the left by default on my blog and i have been unable to bring it to the center. Don do you have idea on how to edit the code generated from sharethis.com to make it align to the center of your blog.?
Simply write the code like this:
<div align="center">SHARETHIS CODE HERE</div>
Twitter: BlackDeathkk
says:
Thanks for this Informative post .. Mine wasn’t working aslo.. Now it’s Fixed ..Thanks for sharing..
Twitter: InsuranceTalks
says:
Thanks for the share.. mine is fixed now..
Frankestein Abid recently posted..3D Fighter Plane (PRO)
Hey Don, Can you suggest a way to add a “COMMENT” button alongside share buttons like they have it on the HUFFPOST and others. I have DISCUS or Facebook comments on the page. Many Thanks.
Shred Pillai recently posted..Is Andrew Sullivan’s Way the Only Way for Bloggers Who Want to Make Real Money?
hey bro.. i would like to add a ‘share to facebook’ button/script in http://navinadhikari.com.np/devanagari/ .
this site is aimed for converting roman characters to unicode nepali/hindi text. the share content should be only converted text (not url link) which appeares on second box or preview of my site. can u guide me regarding this.
thanks
The only way is to make the open graph description the converted text. I have no idea how your site works and really don’t know how to implement that.
Hey, i really like your tuts but i have a problem that i can’t add any widget to my website. I can go and do all the steps for your widgets or any other widget and i save my template and all the steps are done in the right way, but in real, my website stays the same. Even, some widgets and codes shows in some posts/pages and in other post/pages they doesn’t show. Can you help me please? Thanks
Werech recently posted..Viber Give BlackBerry OS5 and OS7 users a Voice
Hi,
This could be because you normally put the codes under the wrong data:post.body. You have to figure out the right one that appears on post pages.
Okay Thanks a lot. I will try it later. thanks again
Werech recently posted..Werech Tech: Toshiba Portégé Z935-P300 – The Thinnest and Lightest Laptop In The World.
Hi I have tried everything to enable sharing buttons on my blogger but I got frustration every time. Kindly help me. My blog is freebies19.com Actually this is a custom templet.
But on my other template I have successfully added the buttons: http://www.bestshoppingdealsofindia.com
Plz provide the solution at the earliest.. Thnx..
Anshul recently posted..Buy 2 Bedsheets At Best Price @ Rs 399 | Best Shopping Deals Of India