In recent months, several social media platforms (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook) have announced that they are experimenting with doing away with public-facing like counts. Purportedly, this is from a concern for users’ well-being and to encourage healthier conversations, though I think we can dispense with those motives out of hand. If these platforms were concerned for human well-being, they would abolish themselves. They are experimenting with doing away with like counts because they think it’s possible that they will make more money that way.
Vanity metrics
Vanity metrics
Vanity metrics
In recent months, several social media platforms (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook) have announced that they are experimenting with doing away with public-facing like counts. Purportedly, this is from a concern for users’ well-being and to encourage healthier conversations, though I think we can dispense with those motives out of hand. If these platforms were concerned for human well-being, they would abolish themselves. They are experimenting with doing away with like counts because they think it’s possible that they will make more money that way.