Please like and subscribe!
How many times are we asked to carry out these orders on YouTube when all we want is to get to the reason we clicked on the video in the first place? Likes do have their place, up to a point, because if you like a video, you’re probably more likely to share it with others. However, being asked to like it in the opening seconds of a video is a tad presumptuous. If I could draw an analogy here – you’re on a first date with a girl (insert gender as required) and she starts with “I hope you like me…”, which is unlikely to happen, but anyway, you’ve probably made your mind up already, as is often the case because the first few seconds of any encounter are crucial. The same applies to videos and any content on video hosting channels and social media. Very often, if a video begins with the presenter saying “Please like and subscribe” before the content actually starts, I’ll move on to something else because I’d rather make up my own mind, thank you very much.
For so-called influencers, likes are important, especially if they are doing paid promotion. Some get paid per view and through ad revenue sharing, and these extremely short videos are now an industry in themselves.
The Dopamine Effect
It’s been proven that receiving likes can result in a dopamine rush, in the same way that sex, the aroma of freshly baked bread, and even shopping can give you a high, so when you see someone going ape over the amount of likes they received that day, they are probably on a high. It’s also been likened to the effect that cocaine and other drugs have, but I wouldn’t recommend that course of action! Very often, people will simply like content if it’s been passed to them by a friend. But likes don’t always have a positive effect – you may be targeted if you like content that’s not popular with the mainstream, although I have yet to come across anyone who has been attacked for liking something on the net, although I’m sure it has happened.
We live in a world where posts crave attention. Heck, I run a forum and incorporated a like system (including a dislike button) at the outset. I removed it for a while in order to generate more real participation, but it was clear that most forum members appreciate a like button because sometimes they have nothing to say in reply to a post, where a like or dislike will suffice.
Please like this article! I won’t be offended if you don’t, honestly…
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