Comparing Taste With Friends: Why It’s More Fun Than You Think

My best friend and I have almost nothing in common when it comes to media. She loves horror. I can’t stand it. I’m obsessed with sci-fi. She thinks it’s boring. And yet, we send each other recommendations constantly. Here’s why that works.

Taste Is a Personality Test

How you consume media says a lot about you. Not in a judgmental way—but in a “this is interesting” way. When you and a friend compare taste, you’re not just finding out if you like the same movies. You’re finding out how you think about stories, what you value in characters, and what themes resonate with you.

I discovered my friend cares more about visual storytelling than dialogue. I care more about world-building than plot. That explains why we like completely different movies but can still have great conversations about them.

The Affinity Score

Fanakin has this feature called Affinity Score that compares your taste with a friend’s. It shows you where you overlap and where you diverge. It’s like one of those personality quizzes, but based on actual data instead of random questions.

The results are surprisingly fun. You might find out you agree on comedies but disagree on dramas. Or that you both love hidden gems but for completely different reasons. It’s the kind of thing that sparks conversations.

Why It Matters for Recommendations

When I know my friend’s taste, I can recommend better. Not “you should watch this movie” but “you should watch this movie because you liked that other movie and this one has similar vibes.”

Taste comparison isn’t about finding someone who likes exactly the same things. It’s about understanding the patterns in what you both enjoy. And that makes every recommendation more targeted and more likely to land.

How to Start

The easiest way to compare taste is to both track what you watch for a month. Not detailed logging—just titles and quick notes. Then compare lists. See where you overlap. See where you differ. Argue about why you disagree on that one movie you both watched.

It’s more fun than any personality quiz, and you learn something real about each other in the process.