A Like Away

Like is our primordial instinct in the era of social media. I don't remember precisely when it all started, but one thing is certain - everything quickly spiraled out of control! Hearts rain down, but do we truly know why? What do each of us genuinely like? And how far is that from the too-easy, shallow likes we scatter online?

As the overthinker that I am, I've found myself naturally overthinking the 'like' issue recently, and I must confess that I've always been in favour of “responsible liking”. It's much like responsibly using drugs. You can still enjoy it and get the best out of it without putting yourself in uncomfortable situations :)

Responsible liking involves liking from a place of truth. You see, you can responsibly like all sorts of things: interests, opinions, aesthetic choices, and yes, even the occasional semi-naked body or selfie - just as long as you're not doing it solely to have more likes in return - it's a form of manipulation. And it’s basically how the instagram works.
But a little dose of consciousness can bring about a change. You can pause for a moment, ask yourself, 'Why am I liking this?' and then decide whether to click that heart away or not.

In the case of new followers (lovers, too), you can generously sprinkle a few (not-so-true) likes at the beginning as a delightful form of love-bombing; it's absolutely legitimate (especially if you're a narcissist!). Just be sure to keep a close eye on your 'investment' and, sooner than you'd think, ponder whether it's truly worth your grand gestures. As for their dog, well, it should undeniably always receive your unwavering adoration, no matter what. But if they're exploiting their furry friend for an ego boost, by all means, hold back those likes! Also, please don’t feed the bare minimum effort on the other part - as in real life, likes should be well deserved.

When scrolling, keep a wise women’s words in your head: “If you (truly) like it, then you should put a heart on it!”