The “Like” Problem
Imagine witnessing a friend do something absolutely awe-inspiring.
They caught a fly ball that was unreachable.
They jumped over a river.
They kickflipped over a shed.
They disapproved E=MC2.
They shed light onto an idea you never understood before.
They gave you a new perspective that changed your views.
After any of the above, imagine just throwing them a “Thumbs up”.
No comment. No reaction. You simply stare at them like a hitchhiker.
Absurd. Ridiculous. You’d never think of doing that.
But we do it every single day on Facebook.
Someone posts a fantastic picture. Click. “Jordan Shirkman likes this”.
“I just finished a marathon!” Click.
“My wife and I just found out we’re having a baby!” Click.
“I was just elected President of the United States!” Click.
Liking is downright offensive. It says,
“What you did is cool, funny, entertaining or remarkable, but certainly not worthy of a comment or my congratulations, input or thoughts.”
Like Ruins
It dilutes the quality of what someone has done.
Likes get no response. They require no action. They add nothing to the conversation.
Liking is lazy. It’s worthless. It adds no value. If you like something, tell us why. Anyone can click a button. Few put in the effort to say why.
Retweets Are Noise
Anyone can retweet a post on Twitter. Few take the effort to add a sentence or two and pose a question at the bottom of a post.
The author may appreciate you linking to their post, but in my experience it has very little effect on overall page views. In fact, my most retweeted post ever had less clicks than posts that had no retweets at all.
Linking and liking don’t help ideas spreads: discussion does.
Spark something up.
Poke the fire.
Fan the flame.
Don’t just look stare at it; show someone where it is and tell them what you think about it.
The Fix
Stop liking. Start commenting.
If you are a chronic “liker”, it’s not too late to change things.
Take a moment, move your hand away from the mouse, and think through what someone has posted, created, photographed, or joined. Tell them why it’s great they did that or how much you appreciate it. Don’t just like it. Tell them why you love it.
The “Like Less, Love More” Challenge
Here’s my commitment: I won’t tweet, post or publish a single link to a blog without commenting first.
Yes, it will take more time. It might mean I’ll share less links. But the ones I do share will show up with my opinion, and they will add more value to the blogger and those in the comment community.
(As an aside, I think posting a comment before a retweet is okay, but I think taking the time to comment in addition is significantly more valuable.)
The advantages of the “Like Less, Love More” movement are monumental:
More interaction.
Real discussion.
Deeper relationships.
True value.
Better community.
And so on.
Will you join me in this? Will you stop just liking and retweeting and start engaging, asking questions and commenting on blogs?
P.S. Don’t you dare like this post or retweet it without commenting =)
Photo provided by LlGC ~ NLW
Pingback: The “Like” Button Is Ruining Everything (And Retweets Are Noise) | rssblogstory.com
I totally agree son! I just saw my friend’s 93 year old grandpa was in a parade and I thought that was so awesome, but I went to hit the like button instead of telling her how lucky she was to still have him around!
We all really do want more than just a thumbs up, don’t we?
I’m with you on the “Like Less, Love More” challenge! As you said the true value comes from people sharing, advancing and discussing ideas.
The whole is greater than the sum of the parts (usually). But I think most people online are “lurkers” (not sure what the official term is). Lot’s of people won’t comment on your post, even if it changed their life.
If the like button helps lurkers dip their toe in the water, perhaps they will eventually dive in for the real thing?
I feel you on this, but there is a part of me that enjoys throwing my thumb up on Facebook. To me the “like” is similar to a nod or a smile in real life.
It isn’t enough to build a relationship or change the world, but for now it is the least risky form of engagement that I think helps more than it hurts…. perhaps we need a dislike button for my comment? :)
I’ve thought about the “like problem” before. Honestly I think it’s just an extension of the ever extending American lazy attitude. “Oh, I can just click to like something instead of actually putting something GENUINE on their wall? Cool.”
As far as RTs are concerned, I’m following someone right now who literally just RTs everything their followers say like it’s somehow cool or even worth anyone’s time. I know I fall into RTing something every now and again without contributing anything to it, but some people have to realize with it’s simply too much.
I do approve of the dislike button for Facebook though, haha.
@chris–A comment like that means so much more than a simple like ever could!
@bcroke–It’s a shame when people don’t comment, especially if it changed their life. It’s incredibly encouraging for a blogger to hear what they are doing (often for the sole purpose of helping others) is valuable to others. We can hope the Like button will help the “lurkers” dive in, but I’m afraid they have no plans to put their swimsuits on and rather enjoy the feeling of having their khaki pants on when they dip their toe in.
As far as liking in general, I think it’s fine if it’s something like “I had a great day!” Sure, you like that. Glad to hear it. But when it’s something truly worthy of noticing, I think an online smile or head nod just isn’t enough. As far as helping more than it hurts? I think on the whole the button is a cop out. And as the adage goes, “If it’s not part of the solution, it’s part of the problem.” Maybe we do need a dislike =)
@Adam–It’s most certainly an extension of laziness. As far as the person your following that only RTs, my question is, why are you still following them? =)
I didn’t say I wasn’t prone to laziness myself… hahaha.
Pingback: Tweets that mention The “Like” Button Is Ruining Everything (And Retweets Are Noise) « The Point of Impact -- Topsy.com
“like.”
love the wisdom, jordan. yet another reason why facebook is going to be the downfall of our social existence :P
This may be a stretch, but could it be possibly that facebook and twitter are simply deteriorating people’s ability to express there own opinions? Maybe people are just so consumed in worrying about their social “networking” rather than actual meaningful social “interactions.” Sure you are networking with your name coming up on Jordan Shirkman’s wall saying that you like their status, but does that really justify any relationship you have with him?
I feel like sometimes people are just so worried about how many people they know instead of how well they know the people they care about. I can assure you that I can easily like any status on my “friends” list, but does that really mean anything? No. You mentioned that people have become too lazy to comment or contribute anything noteworthy, but maybe they’re just worrying about their relationships on the network side of it instead of a real genuine interaction. College has put such an emphasis on how it matters who you know, not “what” you know. To me, I don’t care “who” knows me, but a real “friend” on my facebook page is someone who knows the “what” about me.
I see a lot of people that comment on your blogs that simply say “good job Jordan your blog inspired me,” but did it really? How did it? Are they just saying that because they know you from class, work, or when they come to 180, or are they just making sure you see their name enough times to where you won’t forget them after college. In reality, most of the people we are friends with in college, we will never see in ten years, and that’s the truth
This, and many comments following, are silly. It is not an extension of laziness, it is not dumbing down social experience, it certainly will not lead to the downfall of society.
I can guarantee that 90% of the likers wouldn’t have done anything to begin with, had the like button not been there. They would have simply read it and been on their merry ways, “being stuck in their own existence” as some of you have said it. The like button is a quick, easy way to show some sort of response to something you obviously want feedback on.
All I gather from this post is that you are personifying all of Facebook into some careless, soulless social machine. It’s not that way. Again: the people liking things never would have left anything to begin with, more than likely.
Right, but people take it too seriously. “It’s not facebook official” or “i left you a message on facebook?” are phrases that often get play, but who really cares?
Well if it’s not facebook official then it must not exist. If you left me a message and obviously want a response then why didn’t you just call me. It’s things like this that make me feel like people are too dependent on something that is nothing.
I felt like Jordan was saying he’d appreciate something more than just a “like,” a more genuine reaction to something he may have said or done rather than a “like” which means nothing.
This discussion alone is what Jordan was saying is better than a “like,” the fact that we didn’t just “like” it but that we actually are “spark[ing] it up” or “poking the fire”
@anonymous People definitely take it too seriously, this is similar to something I think happened with the advent of cell phones too… like you tell someone to meet you somewhere at 5pm and they don’t show, so you call them and they say, “Oh, I thought you were going to call me!”
No, I said meet me at 5pm.
Hey Jordan! Thanks for always making me think about my actions (and sometimes inactions). The “like” button has almost become a reflex. I’m all about encouragement, and I feel that “liking” something can be a form of showing that I read what you had to say and I cared about it. However, it means so much more to people if you can encourage them in a specific way. Rather than, “Good job” or “I liked that,” telling people specifically what they did or said that impacted you and why you will be different because of it gives life to people. I really like what you said in your comment about “It’s incredibly encouraging for a blogger to hear what they are doing (often for the sole purpose of helping others) is valuable to others.” I can’t relate as a blogger, but as someone trying live a lifestyle and have a career that is “for the sole purpose of helping others,” I wholeheartedly agree in the value of encouragement. I can remember times when I have been discouraged because I didn’t think something went well or I was drained because I felt as though all of my efforts didn’t matter. In those times, just one little bit of specific encouragement can make all the difference. It makes those feelings of exhaustion worth it and eliminates feelings of discouragement/inadequacy because impacting even one person makes it all worth it. That may have been a tangent, but it just proves the point that taking time to comment makes you take time to think. Imagine if I had just “liked” this post and not taken any time to reflect on it. That would have been easy, lazy, and I would have missed the point.
@Hiram–I’m not much of a Facebook fan overall anymore. I know it’s hyperbole that it’ll be the end of our social existence, but it certainly does blur lines between a lot of things (like what a “friend” really is for example).
@Anonymous–I tend to (perhaps naively) approach commenting and social networking in general as tools that force transparency and honesty. I’d hope that people are building connections to learn, grow and share ideas, and I hope it’s not because they expect to use people in the long run. There’s nothing wrong with building bridges before you need them. I think the commenters on this blog, and most, for that matter, do it because they really did enjoy the content and not just to get their name out there. I totally agree with your second comment as well. This blog stirred up more discussion than any other post, and I’m incredibly grateful for everyone’s insight. This is the real stuff. I love it.
@Jonathan–I’m not so sure I would assume 90% of people wouldn’t say anything at all on something remarkable. I’ve been a culprit of wanting to acknowledge something (and others who have commented have mentioned it as well–@Chris & @Sarah) and instead of commenting just clicking like. Some things don’t need more than that. A lot of noteworthy, inspiring, quality posts deserve more than a click if it made an impact on you. I’m advocating for taking the time to tell people what they’ve done is important and that you appreciate it.
@Sarah–Thank you, thank you, thank you for your comment! That’s exactly what I’m talking about; you hit the nail right on the head. A comment like that makes it all worthwhile. I can totally relate to feeling drained and as if the work you’re doing isn’t important. One person taking the time to tell you makes it all worth it. With that, thanks for taking the time instead of clicking like :)
The temptation to want to “like” this post is almost overwhelming =) @Sarah stole the words right out of my mouth with her comment. I know often times the reason I won’t comment on a blog or make the effort to say what I’m thinking is because I wonder if people really care what I have to say. It’s not the right attitude to have and after reading this I realize how encouraging it can be to the writer to hear that feedback. The purpose you and most bloggers have, as you said, is to make a difference in people’s lives. I almost feel selfish for not taking the time to tell you what a difference each one of your blog posts makes in my life. By putting yourself and your ideas out there, my own attitudes about things are challenged and more clearly defined. I know how much more I enjoy when people make the effort to comment on a picture or post, so why don’t I do the same? Now aware of the laziness of just “liking” something, I’m almost compelled to go unlike everything in the past, haha. Not to say my days of this are over, but the people who make a difference in your life deserve to know it. And thanks to your post, I am much more conscious and aware of that.
Great post! absolutely agree – I was beginning to think I was the only one who thought this! It just doesn’t require any effort what so ever, it holds no weight at all! and ‘Retweets’, what the hell are they about? what value does that add to the collective? HAVE AN OPINION DAMNIT!
Nice blog! I don’t mind standing in my own corner and saying I like the ‘like button’ on facebook. I probably use it in 50% of my responses. Many times as I scan the fb pages I see things that I don’t really have a comment about I simply want to acknowledge that I saw the information or I really do just like it. When people click my ‘like button’ ok, maybe I would have rather had them leave a comment, but at least I know they were thinking of me.
So I almost copied and posted a portion of this post for my classroom window without posting how powerful it would be if all our students on campus used the words “Like” and “It’s cool” less and “LOVE BECAUSE” more!? Now I will type my own version and yours as well. Thank you for the insoirational weekly messages of which I have provided your website and credit with. The kids love “The Point of the Week!”
Kim, thanks for passing this along to the students in your class. Like is most certainly infectious in my generation. Thanks for all of the support!