The difference between likes, being liked and liking yourself.

Kanye has been lauded in a flurry of articles for the above take on social media 'likes' and 'followers'. A call to remove the visibility of followers or likes because having them on show is like having your bank account or the size of your d*^k on a shirt.

First of all, the question we would ask is; are we happy to curate and encourage a society that is ok with the fact that likes, followers, d*^k size or bank balance are reasons to judge people or be popular? Regardless of whether people can see these numbers or not, should we be teaching our children and peers that these are the true measures of success and character? 

Are the likes the issue here? Or is the judging of people?

Is the visibility of followers and likes an issue, or the reliance on these numbers (and other arbitrary terrible measures) for self-esteem?

Do we need to hide these metrics so that they become a more mysterious and rare commodity, things that we can only hint at? Hinting at success through fake designer clothes, gucci socks and copy rolex watches splashed around on social media?

Or do we need to start a discussion that ignores all of that. 

A discussion that lauds character, contribution and understanding. A discussion that values positive contribution, effective impact, excellence, commitment, consistency and diligence. A discussion that doesn't splash Kardashians all over magazine covers but places individuals of exceptional character front and center collective consciousness.


Imagine a world where everyone has a chance to express themselves fully, individually and for the benefit of others. A world where being a good person is valued, where we teach our children how to value themselves, mediate their own behaviour for the benefit of others and find ways to love themselves based on their own development of character.

That is a world where likes and followers won't matter.

​That is a world we are striving to create.