When everyone gets the same thing, the smallest differences become status symbols.
For example, on Twitter everyone gets the same platform, the same profile template, and so on. As a result, single word usernames and having a “blue check” are status symbols—they convey belonging to an exclusive group that is not accessible to others. People naturally try to raise their status.
See also:
- Value signaling and signaling as a service
- The internet has American values encoded, is status inadvertently one of them?
- Identity is a powerful motivator for behaviors
Links to this note
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With so much of our time spent with computers and the internet, we ought to think about the quality of our digital lives. What makes for a good digital life? How do you achieve it? What should we do to improve it?
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How to Not Be Rude When Sending a Calendly Link
Some people find it rude to receive a Calendly link when scheduling a meeting. It pushes the effort of finding a time onto them rather going through the ceremonial back and forth of recursively reducing the set of date times to a mutually agreeable one.