I am getting a little fed up with receiving lots of likes on posts. Great, I enjoy good feedback like any other blogger and I appreciate that you appreciate what I write. However, there seems to be a growing trend on WordPress for “Like” spammers. That is, people who trawl hundreds of blogs in a day liking every post that they see yet never post a single comment. These people are not engaging with the content or using the feature in the spirit in which it is intended. It seems that the majority are not actually reading the posts they are liking.
How have I worked this out? Firstly, several times in the last few months I have acquired several “likes” on posts that have (at the time) registered zero hits. Secondly, I turned off “likes” on 2012 and all that several months ago yet I still get them. It is clear what is going on here. Using the reader (which shows only the first 50 or so words of the post) these bloggers are scrolling through a subscribed topic and hitting “like” on everything. Thirdly, I am seeing the same gravatar icons appearing on a wide range of blogs covering a multitude of subjects and in each case, they have not commented. So as of today, I have turned this feature off on this blog.
I work hard to engage with other bloggers, particularly aspiring writers and novelists on WordPress. I do not subscribe to blogs that I do not wish to read and if I click “like” I also make sure to leave a comment. I love reading blogs on the subjects I subscribe to and I will always let a fellow blogger know that I appreciate the work they put in. For those of you that have used this feature as it was intended, I can only apologise but I know it will make no difference as you also comment here – thank you as always… you know who you are.
“Like” Spamming. LOL I LIKE that!
Although I have not experience this on WordPress, I HAVE experienced it on Facebook many times.
Excellent post!
Thanks! I did make a similar comment on the WordPress news page a few months ago, pointing out that I feel it is being abused.
Everybody else was too busy gushing at how awesome the “like” feature is. I guess I have a lonely existence
Yes, it happens. A lot. I usually get the ones that just published some hot, steamy sex novel. (Does it seem as if I’m into that?)
The thing is, it probably works for them. It does with me.
When someone “likes” my post, I reciprocate by checking them out. The spammer gets a hit on their blog, thus their tactic worked.
I can see why you disabled the “Like” feature. I’ve been thinking about doing the same. So far, it is not an issue, but we will see.
I’d only visit sites of people who comment on my blog, I didn’t bother clicking through on “likes”. When I’m feeling partiularly generous I sometimes visit blogs of subscribers who rarely comment, just to remind them I’m here.
I like your blog and I am following you. You do have a point about the LIKE feature. I click on the like button because I have read the blog’s post or admired the pictures of blogs, and when I have time I comment. Facebook likes and twitter follows…is clocking up figures really useful? Now, that’s another debate I’d like to read about
Thank you Alison! I’ve lurked your blog several times.
The thing is, I’d rather have 1 comment than 1000 “likes” because at least that one person has paid attention and absorbed it. As a writer I want readers!
Ahh, that you are right. As writers, we do want readers. Thanks for lurking around
I was just reminded of this post by something similar-ish… I like “likes”. I do. They’re lovely. But if I post a 1700-word post at 9:50, and get a notification at 9:56 that someone “liked” the post, I’m going to have to assume the “liker” is either a quick reader-with-retention or didn’t bother to read a word. When the same person hits the like button on every single post I post, I’m going to lean toward the latter. Flattering as it might be to think otherwise, not every post is golden and will appeal. They can’t all be. So the constant “likes” wind up being just kinda creepy.
Precisely! Also, you will find that those “too early to have been read” likes also have zero hits at the time. Keep an eye on your hits before and after you post. If it doesn’t change, then you know they haven’t read it and are just skimming the reader on the front page and hitting ‘like’ – probably on everything
Then there are the people who “like” every single review on Goodreads… but I digress. *sigh*
Sorry I stole your brainwave, dude. You put it much more eloquently than me though. Thumbs up!
Haha, that’s quite alright. Keep up the good work
I haven’t turned my “Like” feature off completely, but have certainly opted not to be notified when I get liked. After reading the informative posts by you, ruinedchapel and Peaches- I just don’t feel the love anymore. On the other hand, a comment can mean so very much.
Likes have just become meaningless for me now when it is the same people cropping up on every blog liking every post
Even though I’m flattered when people drop by and “like” something that I’ve written, I’m not always sure why they like it. I think that’s the aspect that becomes so frustrating; there’s not enough information.
Comments, however, are awesome.
Agreed
http://margaretrosestringer.com/2014/03/07/ok-lay-it-on-me/ – definitely related … You have started me thinking on turning off ‘likes’ – thanks!
Welcome! Maybe we’ll start a revolution and WP will start asking bloggers what they think works best
Dream on, it seems …