Cancer vs Kittens

I just saw a picture of a child with cancer on Facebook.

The top caption said:

"I have cancer & I'm fighting."

The bottom caption said:

"1 like = 1 salute <3

1 share = 100 salutes <3"

(Example picture below. Original picture taken down from source.)

I generally don't like to clutter up my Facebook page by sharing stuff that my friends will find uncomfortable, or by sharing things that aren't funny, thought provoking, or otherwise uplifting. So instead of "liking" or "sharing" this picture, I did what probably so few people would do. I saluted the picture itself and said a few words out of respect. Rather than glancing by and clicking a button while distractedly scrolling the page, I stopped and wished the child well, commending his struggle. Chances are this child doesn't know his picture is being shared on Facebook, and chances are the person sharing this picture has no intention of letting the child know how many people are supporting him with "likes" and "shares." But I thought I'd say something anyway, which feels more meaningful than a "like" or a "share."

What is the meaning behind clicking the "like" button on a post like that? Does clicking it signify that you truly feel empathy for the child, or are you clicking it simply because you want to satisfy that part inside yourself that said you should click "like" or "share" after reading the bottom caption? Or better yet, are you clicking "like" or "share" because you want other people on your friends list to see what kind of person you are?

Just below that picture of the child with cancer I see a picture of what appears to be a baby cheetah.
(Example picture below. Original picture taken down from source.)

"Like = cute"

"Ignore = ugly :("

I think this helps to demonstrate my point a little more clearly. Honestly, I find this picture pretty adorable. But I ignored the captioning. Why? Because I don't want to clutter my Facebook page with another one of the thousands of random kitten pictures.

The only real goal I see in showing us what ignoring this picture would signify is to make more people feel obligated to click "like." The more "likes" this picture has, the happier the person who posted it becomes, because the number of "likes" reflects their popularity, right?

So if you really think about this, what's truly in it for you if you click "like"? The peace of mind that your friends don't think you find this kitten ugly? Your friends likely wouldn't even notice that you ignored it, being that ignoring something wouldn't notify them. If you clicked "like," does that mean you like the picture enough to save it? And if not, then why not? 

And what's in this for the kitten? Probably the same amount that's in this for the child in the previous picture, except that the child might be able to find and see his picture online. Personally, I'd feel a little weird about seeing a picture of me in a hospital bed spread through the internet without my consent; though the intent of support represented by the numbers of "likes" and "shares" would be kind of uplifting for a minute or two. I don't think impersonal numbers mean much to children with real health problems though.

There are, as of this moment, 1,098,041 people subscribed to the Facebook page that posted both of these pictures. Being that so few of those million viewers actually interact with the page in any way, I'm just going to take a wild guess and say that about 80% of those people only subscribed to this page because of its name: "I randomly walk up to my fridge, open it, look, and walk away."

Now here's an interesting observation... Can you guess which of these pictures has more "likes"?

Simply because I asked that question, you probably guessed the kitten. And if that is the case, you are correct. The kitten has 10,087 "likes" and the cancer child has 4,894. These results are surely caused by the fact that if you ignore the kitten, then you obviously find it ugly. But if you ignore the child with cancer, then no harm done, right?

I have news for you Facebook users out there. If you ignore posts that aren't a request/cry for help from a real person in real life, then chances are good that no harm will be done.

The cancer child does, however, have more than twice the number of shares. And that is probably because the kitten doesn't have a "Share = absolutely adorable <333" caption added onto it.

So what I'm seeing here is a direct crossover from those annoying chain letters we used to get in our mailboxes and email inboxes. "Pass this letter on to 10 people = success in your life. Ignore = death." And apparently it still works. The thought that so many people probably clicked "like" simply because they're easily manipulated sheep makes me sad. However, I could be wrong, and it is possible, though extremely unlikely, that every one of those 10,087 people clicked "like" for reasons other than proving that they don't find that kitten ugly.

My point in this rant is to demonstrate how many people don't think, and they simply do as they're told. Please, do not be one of these people - these sheep who only react. You have a brain, and that brain is an amazing tool. Use it to the best of its ability, and keep a watchful eye for marketers and other manipulative sources who would subtly steal and change your thoughts. The more often you let them manipulate your thoughts, the easier it will be for them to continue to do so successfully.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go "like" this picture about a man who has a date with his bed.

[Edited to add new images, since originals were taken down from source]