We’ve all heard the news. Instagram is thinking about taking away likes. The company believes that this may be the right move as they look to hopefully combat the mental health problems that have plagued this generation’s youth. I mean, that sounds like some great intentions right? Am I the only one who ever felt like trash after I didn’t get the amount of likes I wanted? I doubt it. A lot of us don’t even post the things we actually like because we think that others won’t double tap, or share, or comment. But I must say, I don’t know if I’m ready to give up likes and (maybe views) for reasons I will talk about in this editorial. And from what it sounds like from a lot of celebrities and influencers, they aren’t either. Ultimately, I find myself on the fence. It’s a comfortable fence – real high up, so it’s easy for me to see concepts that might otherwise fly over some people’s heads. I couldn’t help but think about how similar the Instagram-likes debate sounded to the debate over gun control. So let’s discuss…
We’ve all been seeing the tragedies across the nation – mass shooting after mass shooting. The shootings have gotten so much out of hand that a large amount of people in the United States believe it is more than appropriate for this nation to rectify the 2nd Amendment, which states – “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” These people believe that if we can take the guns out of the citizens’ hands, the mass shootings will stop or at least have less casualties. I mean it makes sense right, how do you stop people from shooting other people, don’t give them a gun. Too many lives have been lost: women and men, even children. Something must be done. At first glance, you’d think that anyone who would be against these people were insane – but let me introduce you to the other side.
These people are human too. And these humans base their beliefs on the following phrase: “guns don’t kill people, people kill people”. And when you look at the sentence in it’s literal meaning, their right. They don’t see this as a problem of guns, but see this as a problem with the hate people have in their hearts. They believe taking away the guns won’t solve anything really – maybe even put more people in danger of being attacked by bad people that acquired guns illegally. Sure if we run the numbers, you’ll probably have less people killed during a massacre with a knife than you would with a semi-automatic rifle. However, then what happens when people just move to a new tactic to kill people, like building those DIY bombs? Is taking away the guns worth it if people are just gonna find a new way to kill?
In the world of social media, the closest thing you’ll get to physical harm at the hands of another person is foolishly dropping your address for your enemy to come and fight you. Other than that – you remain pretty safe. However there are other ways you can be harmed through social media, and those ways have to do with your mental health. How do you feel when you don’t get the attention or appreciation you believe you deserve? Some of us start to see ourselves differently – start to see ourselves in a very bad way. When we start to do this we can really hurt ourselves…must I go any further? So the problem is that people have their feelings hurt, and this is all mainly caused by how many likes they get.
In this debate, you have two groups – the people who want Instagram to keep the likes – let’s call them the Likers – and the people who want them gone. We can call these guys and gals the No-likers. Each side, I’d say, have valid points. The No-likers believe that likes may not be the center of the problem, but they can help with solving the problem – a step in the right direction. People can’t have their feelings hurt through their lack of likes if others can’t see how many likes they get. That way there is no humiliation, there is no anxiety created over people thinking that you aren’t special. There’s less comparison, less self-deprecation, and less depression. The No-likers believe that too many lives have been negatively affected or even lost: women and men, even children. Something must be done. At first glance you’d think that anyone who would be against these people were insane – but you’ve yet to hear from the Likers.
In this debate you have two groups, the people who want Instagram to keep the likes – let’s call them the Likers – and the people who want them gone. We can call these guys and gals the No-likers. Each side, I’d say, have valid points. The No-likers believe that likes may not be the center of the problem, but they can help with solving the problem – a step in the right direction. People can’t have their feelings hurt through their lack of likes if others can’t see how many likes they get. That way there is no humiliation, there is no anxiety created over people thinking that you aren’t special. There’s less comparison, less self-deprecation, and less depression. The No-likers believe that too many lives have been negatively affected or even lost: women and men, even children. Something must be done. At first glance you’d think that anyone who would be against these people were insane – but you’ve yet to hear from the Likers.
The Likers believe that it’s not about likes, but it’s about the insecurity and sensitivity that people have in their hearts. Sure if we run the numbers, you’ll probably have less people feeling bad about themselves if they don’t have likes to help falsely define them. However, then what happens when people just move to another platform, like the billion other social media platforms that exist? Even aside from social media, people can compare themselves without it, can get their feelings hurt without it – so is it really worth it to take away likes in the first place?
Like I said in the beginning, I’m on CURRENTLY on the fence (about the likes). On one hand, you have a company that I assume is trying to do it’s part to help people by changing the entire dynamic of it’s platform. Whether you acknowledge it or not, this could definitely help some people out – and even if it saves one life, isn’t that worth it? But then again, the other side says that it is not enough to focus on the likes, but we need to focus on the people. Likes aren’t killing people, people allowing likes to falsely define them are killing people. So is it worth it to take away likes -the likes that some people use actually pay their rent with – even if people can just move to the next item, platform or person that can falsely define them? Should people have the right to bear arms? Should people have the right to bear likes?
In the meantime, let’s focus on what we all agree on. The problem exists: humans let too many things in this world define them. This company exists to help solve this problem. Friendly reminder: If you are the fellow that gets 20-50 likes, understand that God created you in His image and His likeness. He created you with purpose and identity, but that doesn’t mean people will treat you like it. Jesus was the Son of God but they treated Him like a criminal. Who you are can never be defined as how many people care about you or let alone like your Instagram picture. And to the fellow that gets 20,000 to 50,000 likes – or let’s cover them all – 20,000 to 10,000,000 likes – remember that the likes don’t define you either. Living a life where your security is built on the foundation of compliments and other people’s approval is like climbing a tall ladder without a harness. The higher up you go, the riskier it gets. And then all it takes is one slip of the foot, or words from a critic/hater, to commence the great fall. A life built on compliments doesn’t get rid of insecurities, it can only cover them up temporarily.
Personally I’ve maxed at over 500 likes before. I felt like I was on top of the world. But then followed the picture that only got about 250…where did everybody go? The insecurities were back like they never left (cuz’ they didn’t). “I must’ve done something wrong,” I’d think to myself, “I gotta come up with a better pic”. Next thing you know I’m forcing another fake-happy pic to meet my quota, only to fail again, and again, and again. Then the insecurities get stronger, and stronger and stronger. And it would be a while until I realized – after a lot of prayer, reading and meditation – that I was the same person at 500 as I was at 250. Like come on now. I remember when I couldn’t break 100 and I thought that once I did…man…that would be the day. But it didn’t stop there. The quota will continue to grow, and it will continue to get imprison your self-image, all until you realize that it doesn’t have to.
I don’t know if we should have the right to bear likes. But, I do know that we all have the right to love ourselves whether others like us or not. It’s about time we start waking up ladies and gents. We have all been suffering and it’s time to break free. Post what you want, be who you were created to be. That light inside of you? – let it shine for God, not the double tap.
