The Superficial Likes

Nusrath S.Advice On Dilemmas, Casual

Do you ever get frustated with consecutive ‘likes’ you get by the same person at the same time?

I do.

I can’t imagine why someone would ‘like’ my articles without even reading them (I know they haven’t because you obviously can’t read 10 articles in less than a minute). It’s the most annoying thing in the world to know that people don’t even know what you are sharing, but they ‘like’ your post anyway.

I do understand that there are plenty of people who genuinely like your content and press the like button and that’s perfect. However, the problem is that, it’s so easy to like something now, that everyone likes everything.

This is a kind request to my readers. Please only ‘like’ my articles if you genuinely actually think it is good. If you have the time, please drop down a comment too because who doesn’t find comments more real than likes?

‘Likes’ have become so superficial but nevertheless so important in people’s lives. Specially among young teenagers and young adults, and specially in social media like Facebook and Instagram.

Why? Well, what I feel is that people aren’t confident in their own skin. They have this constant need to get validation from other people about how good they look and what they are doing with their lives.

There is a thirst for social media acceptance. It has gone so far that there’s people who actually skip the wait and straight out ask you or drop a hint asking you to like their status or picture. Have you not experienced that?

Facebook has made it so that we can like almost anything, photos, posts, comments and even what the other person says in a conversation. In the near future it’ll even have an option where you can like a person on Facebook. How absurd is that?

I guess we are all guilty of at least one point in our lives checking our phones only a minute after we post something on social media just to see how many likes we’ve managed to accumulate.

While you can’t really say no to that habit immediately, given the norm of the society, I think it’s important that we all grow up and realise that there’s more important things to do with our lives than accumulate likes. It’s important to know that we don’t need the approval or validation of other people to be happy about who we are.

With Love.

Here’s a reminder of my previous random posts which you may have missed –

87 thoughts on “The Superficial Likes”

    1. Hmm.. Yup, I guess you could say that about blogs. In social media however, why would picture want any support? I am not trying to knock it George, just stated that I get frustrated when there’s consecutive likes on so many of my posts in less than a minute. This might not be the case for everyone, but personally I find it irritating when that happens because I start to wonder why. Cheers and thanks for pointing that out!

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      1. So…..please don’t “like” my next post unless you actually read it. I agree with what you wrote. But…hey…people are just pitchin’ in with a small show of support. Many times a “like” is just a way for someone to promote their own blog too. They are advertising themselves. Yeah, annoying. Human motivation. Annoying.

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        1. Hehe! I guess that’s true. Blog likes could be actually supportive and push you to keep writing. I guess because likes are so superficial nowadays that we tend to overlook appreciating them. I only mentioned the blog consecutive likes because that’s what sparked the article. However I was more consistent about social media likes and the obsession people have about it. Cheers!

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  2. …and yeah, yeah… Likes are superficial…but I’ve gone beyond that to start thinking…”at least someone is TRYING to help me out here…” Other than that, your post is 100% correct.

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    1. I don’t mind likes at all. I actually like it when I get them, cuz I always assume that person genuinely liked the content. However getting likes to all of my articles in less than a minute is very irritating because I wonder why they even feel like they need to ‘like’ it.

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    1. Hehe! I do love likes too and I accept any like because I always assume that the person genuinely liked the content. I only stated what sparked the post. Receiving consecutive likes on multiple posts in no time. Thanks a lot love!

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  5. Absolutely true. We don’t need validation from the amount of likes we get. Post because you want too not because you will get a like. Sometimes, you may not get a like but it would have maybe made someone’s day nevertheless. And that’s more meaningful 🙂 Keep up the good work. Love your blog.

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  7. So please “Like” my post even if you don’t read it! LOL! Just kidding. Truth is, you have touched on a very sensitive subject which most people feel guilty about! Lol! Keep writing about the issue! And if you want , I’ll repost my blog on the exact same subject. Just ask! Great writing! Keep it up! Thank you.

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  8. Well said. I just had an experience of someone liking all my blogs within a minute & i told the person it is not genuine. All the things i like on social media is bcaz i genuinely like them and there are many things i don’t like. Some of my friends who like everything that comes on their news feed think i’m strange for not doing what they do 😐

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  9. Agree with you 509%dear!!! It’s so sad that nobody reads but just likes to get likes back… this isnt insta or fb …
    Lots of love and hugs to you; wasnt at home for a while so;
    Wasn’t able to be active on WP😘

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  11. Yes the “likes” are apart of the culture we now live it. I have felt the same way many times and based on the content I know if they really read the item or just liked it without really reading. Its like fighting city hall, there is no win with it. Its the social media culture.

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  13. I completely agree. My poetry, and essays are fragile. I pour my heart into them. I write , because, I have something to say. If you like something of mine, or something moves you, I am honored. But, please tell me exactly what you like! Thank you for writing this!!

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  14. Agree, but I’m very new to the blogging world, so not sure what the norm is… it’s like reading the newspaper, you don’t know the news, unless you read about the news …. I “like” to read the article and then comment, and really there shouldn’t be a like star, not necessary. Just read and comment, or just don’t read. Don’t be a pretend reader…..

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  15. I read and I will like, and you are right. As an emerging writer who hears the noise of platform importance in my ear, I feel the same frustration. I’m trying to tend to the craft, but get sucked in by the drone of audience. Friends see me and let me know they lived a piece, but comments are paltry. I want to be present to the in person compliment, but a niggling voice says, “please comment” because it matters to publishing houses. And yes, I am as guilty as the rest when I post, checking frequently for view, likes and comments. All well said. Thank you!

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    1. I don’t think that checking for likes and comments on something like a blog post which you’ve put blood and sweat into is something you should be guilty of. Anyone and everyone likes it if their work is acknowledged. I am 100% against the obsession of checking for likes on social media. For example, how many likes you get on that new selfie you uploaded. You ain’t put no blood and sweat into that. Oh wait! Maybe you have, given all the filters and everything nowadays.. 😁

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    1. Yup, comments are the ultimate compliment. That too real comments rather than “nice read”. But in all honesty I enjoy superficial comments as much as I do real comments when I feel like “damn this person means that”..

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  17. Hi. Thanks for the follow. You’re totally right here. I think some people are just fishing for follows and likes- so good luck to them.I always prefer good ol’comment to chew on -and enjoy some profound intelligence to get my brain gears a-moving. Will be reading more from you soon, toddler permitting 😂

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    1. Hehe! Thanks so much for taking your time to drop by and for commenting! I really never understood the satisfaction people get from accumulating likes and follows. The only thing I want from my blog is for more and more people to actually read it. Not just press the like or follow button. On social media however, I’ve come to the point I don’t even acknowledge likes I get. I only enjoy reading comments.

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  18. I like the likes, but you are correct. We all want a more intimate response of our work, we all want to feel we have touched a mind and helped them make the world better. I know that it is hard for people to be overwhelmed by something distant from their daily lives. Still, we as “writers” keep trying, so that they can keep trying to connect to be beauty and terrors of the bizarre world. I am grateful for your blog!

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    1. Thank you so much John! That really is your name right? It means so much to me. I love connecting with people like this. I hardly have time to blog now, but as soon as my exams are over I will definitely check out and read every blog of people who enjoy reading my posts. Cheers!

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  19. You are so right. People have “this constant need to get validation from other people about how good they look and what they are doing with their lives.”

    I feel that that is why people keep pressing the like button because they probably have low self-esteem.

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    1. I wonder why there even is such a thing as a like button. Liking something is something you feel. It doesn’t have to be made into a button does it? If you really like it you can always say it in the comments. 🤔

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  23. Completely agree – I’ve been guilty once or twice of half-reading an article and then just liking because I’ve gotten tired/bored, but for the most part I always make sure to like after I’ve read it. It’s why I like give and receiving comments so much because it means that someone actually wants to engage with what you’ve put out there.

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    1. Yup it does mean a lot when someone takes some time of their lives to drop by, read an article and comment. I’m glad you didn’t get bored reading this and end up giving it a ‘like’. Hehe! Cheers!

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  24. I agree with you. I’m telling a story and want to know what the reaction is. What characters do they love, hate or love to hate? lol I would hope if someone clicked like, it was because they actually did find it enjoyable.

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  27. I usually comment before I like. I feel the same way. I know from the very large blogs I managed how less significant a like is over other forms of engagement. People would like a photo without reading the associated post that, if they read it, they would not like it. Good point you made to make people think.

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  28. I totally agree with you! I don’t spend time writing my blog post so that people can just send me a casual like in way of support. Not that I don’t appreciate the support, of course. I know that sometimes I read blog posts and I will just leave a like because I do like them, but don’t necessarily have anything to say.Or maybe I don’t have the time because I’ve only found a few spare moments to read.

    But getting a string of like after like by someone who clearly didn’t read what I wrote is definitely annoying. I’m not trying to win a popularity contest or get likes at all really. I’m trying to share something, to add value, to find people who can relate to me and who I can relate to in return. And if someone isn’t actually reading my post, and is liking it just to like it, then I feel they are doing my blog a disservice.

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    1. I wonder why they even feel the need to do it in the first place. Do they want it back on their blog? Are they asking for attention? Do they think we like it? The list goes on.. Anyway, thanks for dropping by!

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  29. So I could not even find a like on this post. I was going to hit it just to be funny. lol I do happen to totally agree with you. A comment is so much more personal and lets us writers know we actually sparked some sort of thought from our writing. Good or bad, I would much rather see a comment on one of my posts rather than a like. I get so disappointed to see a like and not a comment. It is sad that I feel that way but I do. Thank you for letting me know I am not alone.

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  31. Great point, Nusrath! We shouldn’t just assume, however, that because someone made 10 consecutive likes, that they didn’t read all 10 articles prior to doing so. I am a very fast reader, and I could read 10 short posts in about a minute. Alternately, someone could have spent 2 hours browsing every post and only after reading the entire blog then “like” the 10 they liked most!

    In any event, I like your blog and am interested in learning more about Islam and the life of Muslims in general and a young Sri Lankan recent Hijabi specifically, so I’ll be following you for a while.

    Take care, be well, and happy blogging,

    Denny

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    1. Denny, I agree with you! Actually that’s something I thought of too. It definitely is a possibility that a person has read all of my posts prior to consecutively liking them. I was just stating my frustration over it happening and the feeling in my gut that it wasn’t sincere which sparked this post.
      I was talking more about the obsession people have got over likes nowadays.
      Anyway, thanks for pointing that out! Take care and happy blogging to you too!
      Cheers!

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  32. I think it is the pressure! I have come to realise that as your follower base expands it comes with its own unique set of challenges: How do you show all your followers that you are still invested in what they have to say. The “consecutive likes” becomes quite tempting. While it may be a shortcut, it does at least say you are visiting even if you are just passing through.
    But admittedly, one comment seems to pack more gratification than consecutive likes.

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  35. Pingback: Unique Blogger Award. #4 – Just being nessa

  36. Good post! I’m glad you wrote about this since it’s a very common scenario but few people discuss it. And your post is very well written and thought out. Personally, I don’t like “likes”. When I first joined Facebook (way, way back) they didn’t have “likes” yet, so if you wanted to show support for someone you HAD to comment, and people had all kinds of interesting, in-depth conversations in the comments. Since “likes” have come about, people seem to have gotten lazy. It’s so easy now for people to pretend to care. Comments are so much nicer cause then you know why someone liked something and can have a chat 🙂

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  39. Something made me revisit this blog post… I’ve read it before and I thought I understood it, but now I UNDERSTAND it. You were just more experienced of a blogger by then.

    Don’t get me wrong, I like likes. They’re great. But I do like comments a lot more.

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