The power of likes<\/em> on the brain is tremendous. Today a like<\/em> has become a requirement among kids and teens for being popular and, in many cases, it determines how children feel about themselves. But is it really all that serious? Does “like-chasing” behavior really go any further than the social media world? Let’s take a deep dive into how the power of the like<\/em>\u00a0is affecting children and teenagers, both on and offline.<\/p>\n The brain\u2019s response to likes<\/em> is similar to that obtained when making money. Every time we receive an acknowledgement through a like<\/em>, our brain generates dopamine,<\/strong>\u00a0a neurotransmitter that activates the sensation of reward, which is why several studies compare the effect of likes with drug use.<\/p>\n In teenagers, this response greatly influences their self-esteem<\/strong> and self-concept<\/strong>. For our current generation that has grown up with social networks and adopted likes<\/em> as a symbol of self worth and recognition, the number of followers and, above all, the number of likes<\/em> has become a popularity thermometer<\/strong>.<\/p>\n This is the so-called \u201cTyranny of the Like<\/em><\/a><\/strong>\u201d, in which more and more kids and teens are immersed today. For many kids, the digital world has become more important than the real one, to the point that it generates anxiety<\/a><\/strong> and self-esteem problems if they do not get the recognition from their followers or suffer rejection from them. This may lead to several implications:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n For this generation, social profiles have become a showcase<\/strong> for narrating their lives, or rather, the image that they want others to have of their life. Behind this overexposure lies a need for approval and acceptance by their peers, who are not only their classmates and friends, but a wide variety of acquaintances and strangers with whom they interact through the Internet. This is why it is so key that parents step in and their children from falling into the “Tyranny of the Like<\/em>.”<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The power of likes on the brain is tremendous. Today a like has become a requirement among kids and teens for being popular and, in many cases, it determines how children feel about themselves. But is it really all that serious? Does “like-chasing” behavior really go any further than the social media world? Let’s take […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":2874,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" Today a Like has become a requirement among kids and teens for being popular and, in many cases, it determines how children feel about themselves. It greatly influences their self-esteem<\/strong> and self-concept<\/strong>. For this generation that has grown up with social networks and adopted likes as a symbol of self worth and recognition, the number of followers and, above all, the number of likes has become a popularity thermometer<\/strong>.<\/p><\/div> This is the so-called \u201cTyranny of the Like<\/a><\/strong>\u201d, in which more and more kids and teens are immersed today. For many kids, the digital world has become more important than the real one,<\/em> to the point that it generates anxiety<\/a><\/strong> and self-esteem problems if they do not get the recognition from their followers or suffer rejection from them. This may lead to several implications:\u00a0<\/p><\/div> For this generation, social profiles have become a showcase<\/strong> for narrating their lives, or rather, the image that they want others to have of their life. Behind this overexposure lies a need for approval and acceptance by their peers, who are not only their classmates and friends, but a wide variety of acquaintances and strangers with whom they interact through the Internet. This is why it is so key that parents step in and their children from falling into the tyranny of like.<\/p><\/div><\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n
Likes<\/em>, the popularity thermometer<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
![](\"https:\/\/static.qustodio.com\/public-site\/uploads\/2021\/08\/10165110\/5518b700-ce86-4725-9ee4-0ffc95d2c75c_ADR-IG-quote30_EN.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Implications of the “Tyranny of the Like<\/em>“<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Tips for helping kids avoid the “Tyranny of the Like<\/em>“<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Footnotes<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
The power of \"likes\"<\/span>\u00a0on the brain is tremendous. The brain\u2019s response is similar to that obtained when making money. Every time we receive an acknowledgement through a like, <\/span>our brain generates dopamine<\/strong><\/a>, a neurotransmitter that activates the sensation of reward, which is why several studies compare the effect of likes with drug use.<\/span><\/h2><\/div>
Likes, the popularity thermometer<\/strong><\/h3>
Implications of the Tyranny of the Like\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>
![](\"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/5518b700-ce86-4725-9ee4-0ffc95d2c75c_ADR-IG-quote30_EN.jpg\")
<\/div>\u00a0<\/h3>
Tips for helping kids avoid the Tyranny of the Like<\/strong><\/h3>
Footnotes<\/strong><\/h3>
Further reading on online safety and digital wellbeing:<\/strong><\/h3>