Twitter users: what do these symbols mean: '>' '<'?

[Nick]

Often times my friends will send tweets that have this at the beginning: >>>>>> (or <<<<<)
The number of symbols is often different.
Help?

[Nevuna]

> means greater or better than
< means worse than
If it has a - in it (<- and ->) it is an arrow pointing to the next point in the comment.


So if you wanted to say you prefer Harry Potter over The Hunger Games you'd put:

Harry Potter > The Hunger Games


And the more >>> there are the more you prefer it. For example:

Harry Potter >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Twilight

EDIT:

If the >>> are at the beginning it might be because they think the contents of that tweet are important so want you to notice straight away. For example:

You're far more likely to notice: ">>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I love Harry Potter" in your TL than you are to notice: "I love Harry Potter" because most people won't put the >>> at the beginning. So there'll be lots of ones that say the comment without the >>>> and so your eyes will be far more drawn to the one with >>>> at the start.

EDIT 2:

So if you see 10 tweets in a row that say the same phrase, here's what it may look like:

@01 I love Harry Potter
@02 I love Harry Potter
@03 I love Harry Potter
@04 I love Harry Potter
@05 I love Harry Potter
@06 >>>>>> I love Harry Potter
@07 I love Harry Potter
@08 I love Harry Potter
@09 I love Harry Potter
@10 I love Harry Potter

You are far more likely to be drawn to the tweet from @06 because of the >>>> at the beginning.

EDIT 3:

But that's not to say that's what it actually means. All this is just a guess of a possible meaning. I could be totally wrong.

EDIT 4:

The number of symbols is usually different because how many are there doesn't matter. They'll just hold down the > key or press it a few times.