Ghost in their weekly update, joking about likes:
Descartes famously said “I think, therefore I am” — but it wasn’t until several years later when we started getting likes on Instagram that we collectively came to the realization that the meaning of life, in fact, revolves around a consistent stream of dopamine hits from the internet.
Micro.blog doesn’t have likes and for better or worse, I’m standing by that decision.
Manton Reece @eludom Sure, but I’m much happier receiving an actual reply. Worth 100 likes. 🙂
Jim Rain It’s definitely for better. Actually conversing with someone, instead of tapping a button, is one of the great benefits of micro.blog.
Halsted M. Bernard This is a defining feature of Micro.blog, for me, and I’m so happy that you stand by this decision.
Manton Reece @JimRain Thanks, I think so too. A real interaction is just worth more, even if it is less frequent than a like click.
Jamie Thingelstad “likes”, follower counts, and algorithmic timelines are the path to narcissism.
Brian Christiansen I’ll be the one to represent the opposite opinion: I think private likes (visible to only the author) would help people receive encouragement to stick with this “shouting into the void” hobby.
The Micro Blog @briandigital But would a possible compromise be to let the author of a post choose to whether to allow “likes” (and default it to not allow them)? And also to make them only visible to the author?
