Liking your own posts on social media is the cringiest thing you can do online.
By @benish · Internet
It's the digital equivalent of giving yourself a high-five. There is zero reason to do it and it just screams that you're desperate for engagement.
The full story
This is my hill to die on. There is absolutely no valid reason for anyone to 'like' their own post on Instagram, X, Facebook, or anywhere else. It’s pure digital narcissism. Every time I see it, I physically cringe. The 'like' button is for other people to show appreciation for your content, not for you to give yourself a pat on the back for the whole world to see. My girlfriend and I argue about this constantly because she does it all the time. Her logic is that it 'helps the algorithm' or 'gets the ball rolling' on engagement. I think that's a total cope. If your post is good, people will like it. You don't need to be the first one in line. It’s like laughing at your own joke before you even get to the punchline. It signals a complete lack of confidence. To me, it's just thirsty. It looks like you're so insecure about your post that you have to give it a little nudge to make it seem like it's already got some traction. You're essentially cheating the system, even if it's in the most minor, pathetic way possible. It screams 'please like my stuff, I’m not sure if it’s good enough on its own.' She says I'm making a big deal out of nothing and that 'everyone does it.' I don't care if everyone does it; everyone can be wrong. It's a fundamental misunderstanding of how social media is supposed to work. It’s a social platform, not a self-affirmation platform. I will judge you for it. It immediately lowers my opinion of your social media game. Just post your content and let it stand on its own merit. Don't be the first person to cheer for yourself.
How people voted
- Valid Take — 24% (23 votes)
- I’m Torn — 46% (43 votes)
- Bad Take — 30% (28 votes)
Readers say “I’m Torn” (46%) — 94 votes and 5 comments so far.
What people are saying
@sammydoes — Have you ever considered that the algorithm actually does prioritize posts with early engagement?
@sagewelp — nah this is a hilarious thing to argue about
@brynnkindof — I absolutely agree. It’s like when a comedian laughs at their own joke. Let the audience decide if it’s funny!
@zanemaybe — If you're this bothered by a 'like' on a post, the real issue isn't social media.
@milosorta — lmaoooo
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