And whats in it for Facebook?
Facebook and Instagram users now have two new options.
But will this make any difference at all?
engin akyurt / Unsplash
If likes are like crack to validation-seeking teens and adults, then what use is self-regulation?
Surely there must be something in it for Facebook, itself?
Psychological Stimuli
Likes in social media serve many purposes.
One is simply a way to bookmark a post.
Another is to show the creator that you saw and/or liked their post.
Its when you get to the other side that things become more complicated.
Likes are used as a measure of social validation.
If like counts completely substitute your other reasons for sharing, other more intrinsic motivations become less compelling.
“A high number of likes proves your credibility, expertise, and authority.”
Whats In It for Facebook?
Like any addiction, we enjoy it even though we know its bad for us.
Without the feedback from likes, whats the point of social media?
Might we just stop posting?
“If users don’t expect a post to be well-received (e.g.
not ‘worthy’ of mountains of likes), they won’t post it.”
This could be the reason behind Facebooks semi-withdrawal of likes.
People who dont want them can turn them off.
George Pagan III / Unsplash
Likes have turned into a complex ecosystem.
Dahan agrees, adding, “I think that Facebook is torn about removing likes.”
In some ways, this hedging around the issue of likes is pointless.
It really doesnt change anything.
On the other hand, its like an excellent upgrade to user preferences.
