Why TouchGrass leaves out public like counts
Public like counts put a comparison beside a post before you've had time to decide what it means to you. We think that is the wrong starting point for a social network built around friends.
A photograph of someone's new home might matter enormously to six people who know what it took to get there. A widely shared joke has a much larger audience to draw reactions from. The totals tell you how many people pressed a button. They leave out the history that makes the photograph worth stopping for.
A public total is useful when your aim is to measure reach. Attaching it to every personal update brings that logic into friendship. It can also give you a target for your next post: a number to match, improve on, or worry about falling below. We don't think sharing your life should come with that assignment.
TouchGrass leaves public like counts out as part of being a non-addictive social network. We want the reason to return to be an interest in the people you know. A friend's good news deserves your attention because it is their good news.
A photograph of someone's new home might matter enormously to six people who know what it took to get there. A widely shared joke has a much larger audience to draw reactions from. The totals tell you how many people pressed a button. They leave out the history that makes the photograph worth stopping for.
A public total is useful when your aim is to measure reach. Attaching it to every personal update brings that logic into friendship. It can also give you a target for your next post: a number to match, improve on, or worry about falling below. We don't think sharing your life should come with that assignment.
TouchGrass leaves public like counts out as part of being a non-addictive social network. We want the reason to return to be an interest in the people you know. A friend's good news deserves your attention because it is their good news.