Does Likes/Reactions Kill Forum Engagement?

[Shawn Gossman]

It's so easy to hit the like/reaction button.

Sometimes, it's easier to hit than to post a reply. Maybe it's a little too easy to do it.

I wonder if this feature has caused a lot of missed engagement over the years.

What do you all think about this topic and thought?

 

[Cpvr]

I think it initially killed forum engagement when it was first implemented, but now that it’s been around for so long, I don’t think that’s the case anymore.


The only type of posts I feel might just receive a “like” instead of actual replies are news posts, where users might be too lazy to respond, or they might prefer to show the thread is important to them by leaving a like.


It’s a similar concept when it comes to social media as well.

 

[Cedric]

If it were not for the like system, people would reply silly things like I agree, ok, etc. So in terms of quality, it went up, while liking something is still engaging with content,

 

[AWS]

If it were not for the like system, people would reply silly things like I agree, ok, etc. So in terms of quality, it went up, while liking something is still engaging with content,

That's true. Before likes moderators used to spend hours cleaning up useless things like that.

 

[Nomad]

Most of the time, you do not have to reply because you don't have anything to say. In a situation like this, likes and reactions are certainly important. I think likes and reactions can stop spam in some ways.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

I think it initially killed forum engagement when it was first implemented, but now that it’s been around for so long, I don’t think that’s the case anymore.


The only type of posts I feel might just receive a “like” instead of actual replies are news posts, where users might be too lazy to respond, or they might prefer to show the thread is important to them by leaving a like.


It’s a similar concept when it comes to social media as well.

I can see it. I actually like to react and then reply these days.

If it were not for the like system, people would reply silly things like I agree, ok, etc. So in terms of quality, it went up, while liking something is still engaging with content,

Yeah, that can be a problem. I always hated "k"

 

[Cpvr]

I can see it. I actually like to react and then reply these days.


Yeah, that can be a problem. I always hated "k"

When people use “k” instead of okay it irks the heck out of me. I hate it with a passion.

 

[Cedric]

When people use “k” instead of okay it irks the heck out of me. I hate it with a passion.

K.