As more and more of the Earth's population log on to Facebook with regularity, people are in touch with far flung friends made over the course of their lives. The beauty of this daily interaction it that people keep in touch, much more. Sadly, the majority of users (me included) too often rely on the like button to carry the whole of our communication. Great we have reconnected with friends from our lifetime and then we see a photo or link and hit the like button.
I actually timed it and I could move the mouse, hover over the like button, and click like in a matter of two seconds. Conversely, if I hit the comment button, clicked on the input box, typed a comment, and clicked post it took roughly 20 seconds. I am guessing based on my experience that people will spend 10-20 minutes on Facebook at any given time. I will further guess that they might click either like or comment 3-4 times per visit. This could happen 2-3 times per day.
Assuming you spend time commenting on all the posts you would be taking and extra 54 seconds to communicate with friends, you have known for years and decades, in some cases. Less that one minute can say so much more to the people you care about and the content they contribute. I believe people have adopted Facebook as the default social media since they are social creatures. They have taken the time to add a photo or share a link that has risen to the level of Facebook shareable, and they want there friends to see it.
I am reminded of the Chris Rock Album Born a Suspect. On it he discusses minimum wage relative to working at McDonalds. He says, "Making minimum wage means If could pay you less I would, but that S%#T is illegal." Hitting the like button is akin to communicating with dear friends and family with minimum wage/effort. To comment is to express how the post made you feel or a similar experience you can relate to further the discussion. Not every post deserves comments, however, offering them will make more people possibly comment, and allow us to socialize, which is the point of social media in the first place. Personally, I think the like button is a way for Facebook to lower network traffic and is a crutch for people.
Please comment and let me know if you agree and why.
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I actually timed it and I could move the mouse, hover over the like button, and click like in a matter of two seconds. Conversely, if I hit the comment button, clicked on the input box, typed a comment, and clicked post it took roughly 20 seconds. I am guessing based on my experience that people will spend 10-20 minutes on Facebook at any given time. I will further guess that they might click either like or comment 3-4 times per visit. This could happen 2-3 times per day.
Assuming you spend time commenting on all the posts you would be taking and extra 54 seconds to communicate with friends, you have known for years and decades, in some cases. Less that one minute can say so much more to the people you care about and the content they contribute. I believe people have adopted Facebook as the default social media since they are social creatures. They have taken the time to add a photo or share a link that has risen to the level of Facebook shareable, and they want there friends to see it.
I am reminded of the Chris Rock Album Born a Suspect. On it he discusses minimum wage relative to working at McDonalds. He says, "Making minimum wage means If could pay you less I would, but that S%#T is illegal." Hitting the like button is akin to communicating with dear friends and family with minimum wage/effort. To comment is to express how the post made you feel or a similar experience you can relate to further the discussion. Not every post deserves comments, however, offering them will make more people possibly comment, and allow us to socialize, which is the point of social media in the first place. Personally, I think the like button is a way for Facebook to lower network traffic and is a crutch for people.
Please comment and let me know if you agree and why.
Check Out http://www.pyropooch.com/ My Custom Wood Burning Site where you can buy one of a kind gift, hand made by me.
I picture the Facebook like button, when used on a friend's status, as a thumbs up gesture and I use it when I don't really have anything specific to say about a topic but want to give that thumbs up. If I have a more in-depth comment to make, then I'll make one.
ReplyDeleteWhen I like a comment that someone has made on one of my statuses, I see that like as a "thanks."
When you say that the like button is a way for Facebook to lower traffic, do you mean because they'll get off of Facebook more quickly?
Hi Kelly,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the comment. I agree that not every cute recycled photo of a kitten or baby requires a comment. I am simply suggesting people not rely too much on the like button.
To clarify on traffic (Network Traffic) the TCP/IP network traffic as an aggregate or total volume would be much higher if everyone posted a comment. The server traffic would potentially slow down response time to network requests. Adding a photo or routing a link someone posted.
I hope you comment further.
Rich
You make a good point about not always taking the easy way out by just clicking like. Conversation is much more interesting!
ReplyDeleteI often find myself making brief comments on Facebook, probably because I want to see what else is being said -- and I'm not the only one who does that. Therefore, Facebook often serves more as a venue for a quick witty comment rather than for deep conversation.
Just yesterday, I read an article about how our brains were changing because of being inundated by social signals from Facebook and the like. So, how will that cause conversation/communication itself to evolve?