Facebook to trial hiding likes

[November]

Facebook removes 'likes' in test for Australian users, technology news

Facebook Australia's Director of Policy Mia Garlick said the change was based on wellbeing research and feedback from mental health professionals that like counts can cause social comparison.

"We've had really positive feedback from a lot of the anti-bullying groups and mental health organisations that we work with," Ms Garlick told AAP on response to the change.

"It really is just taking that number out of the equation, so that people can focus on the quality of their interactions and the quality of the content rather than on the number of likes or reactions."

Yay or nay?

Imo we may be well past 'quality' interactions on the internet. The bright have become bored brains pushing boundries and the dull are still mindless media munchers.

That said, the bunnies get more likes on instagram since they took the like count away...

 

[Kratos]

Doesn’t bother me either way. I don’t think removing ‘likes’ is going to make much difference to the quality of interactions. Facebook was designed just for small talk and most people don’t use it much nowadays anyway.

 

[Anyanka Bunny Slayer]

Facebook is just too invasive and untrustworthy now. Likes, no likes, it just doesn't matter anymore...

 

[BaskingINBangel]

I think Facebook should trial ceasing to exist. I am beyond over it! Yet I'm in so many groups, and have people on there (that refuse to get other social media) that I kind of want to keep in touch with.

So the cycle continues, I log in, have a few meaningless conversations, then I fall in line with the rest of the dutiful FB members, and become a mindless drone by giving like reactions to the endless amounts of memes, and meaningless posts that clog my newsfeed. 😂

I can't remember the last time I had a quality interaction on Facebook. So yeah, maybe this will be a good thing?

 

[November]

. I don’t think removing ‘likes’ is going to make much difference to the quality of interactions

Facebook is just too invasive and untrustworthy now. Likes, no likes, it just doesn't matter anymore...

Yeah, I completely agree.

Facebook was designed just for small talk and most people don’t use it much nowadays anyway.

Its still used massively where I am. Especially by stay at home mums and people who run their businesses through it. Some show riders get picked up by sponsors purely on how many likes they pull in - how popular they are. Agistment centres and trainers are chosen by popularity too. Horse prices can be driven up when there is a lot of like interest- although facebook has cracked down on animal sales. I dont think parents would care too much cos they can still see how many likes their spawn has brought in from the backend.

I wonder how it will be received by people in this state but I'd also hope there was a bit more maturity about it (actually no I dont, it could be fun to see tanties, I'm already in an agro mood, I should activate and see how its being taken 😛)