Don't click "like"
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Read time: 5 mins Reader, this hit a nerve with a lot of people. The other week I prepared and delivered a talk called "Escape the Algorithm." A collection of ideas from this very newsletter over the past two years, packaged into an hour long talk. Of all the ideas in it, this was the one that hit a nerve across all age groups. Don't click "like" Over time, we condition ourselves to mistake minimal effort for meaningful engagement, and we do the same to others. Understanding this helps you become more intentional: about how you connect, what kind of content you consume, and how you use your attention. Whether you're a creator, consumer, parent, teacher, or business owner, it prompts a deeper question: are you nurturing real relationships, or feeding an algorithm? It’s easier not to think about it. The "like" button is designed to be mindless, quick, and gratifying. Most people don’t fall to this maliciously. They just don’t pause to examine the trade-off. Clicking ‘like’ feels harmless, even supportive. But over time, it contributes to a culture of shallow connection and performative affirmation. It’s harder to comment, message, or call, so we don't. Don't click "like" Clicking “like” feels easy. That’s the problem. It takes no time, no effort, and no real thought. But it tricks us into thinking we’ve done something meaningful. We haven’t. In Digital Minimalism, Cal Newport says these tiny actions are built for convenience, not connection. A like isn’t a real way to show someone you care. It’s a shortcut. And shortcuts like this slowly change how we relate to others. We stop reaching out. We stop calling. We think a thumbs-up is enough. But deep friendships aren’t built on buttons. Newport warns us: each like pulls us deeper into the app. It’s part of a system designed to keep us scrolling. Not connecting. Not reflecting. Just tapping. “To click ‘like’ is to offer a bare minimum gesture, one that’s so effortless that it’s insulting to the social processing machinery that’s evolved over millions of years to carefully decode complex social cues.” Over time, we lose something. Not all at once, but bit by bit. We feel busy, distracted, and strangely alone. His advice: Stop clicking like. If someone matters to you, tell them. Text them. Call them. Show up. If they don’t, let the post pass. We don’t need to be everywhere. We don’t need to react to everything. We need fewer, better moments. Online and off. “The techno-social engineering of these services isn’t some minor side effect; it’s the engine driving their growth. We need to stop kidding ourselves and accept that likes, hearts, and smiley faces are not a meaningful way to connect with the people we care about.” Mic drop and yes, I gave a talk! I’m usually the guy behind the camera. And something clicked. We took a look at how to escape: I hadn't previously considered packaging material from these newsletters into a talk, but now... I would love to bring this talk to more people. If this sounds like something you'd be interested in for you and your team, Reader, just click here, or one of the links in the image below to signal your interest and I'll get in touch. No likes required.
Escape the Algorithm Book: Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport. For ideas and practises like "Don't click like" and more. Video: 4o Image Generation in ChatGPT and Sora - the most talked about update since... the last one. What I find undervalued about this is the nature of this video. So many companies spend too much time trying to script, perfect, and practice over and over where it’s polished to death. Here OpenAI just put socially awkward IT guys on a live stream. Beautiful. If you got this far, you're part of 71% of subscribers, so thank you, Reader. Not clicking likes and simple unscripted videos might hit a nerve with those in marketing. These vanity metrics don't have to be the goal, just the byproduct of sharing something of interest to an audience. OpenAI with probably a pretty big budget opted for a simple video. I like to think there's a lesson there. If a section has particularly interested you, click the link of the corresponding section. It helps me prepare future newsletters. If this email was forwarded to you, please consider subscribing. See you in two weeks. Peace, Has
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