Liking is a limited feeling that only focuses on the joys of something and will eventually fade over time. Love can be seen as an action that’s about wanting to identify the good and the bad in something and to empathize with it. Due to how the term “like” and “Love” is used, it creates this misconception which leads to people often searching for the wrong thing. This is essentially what Jonathan Franzen is pointing out in the article “Liking is for Cowards. Go for What Hurts.” In this article, Franzen identifies liking as this short-lived infatuation he gets when he receives a new phone but then eventually tosses it for a newer one down the line. Franzen identifies love as feeling of empathy that derives from the heart’s revelation that another person as real as you are. Franzen also states, to paraphrase, social media creates this idea that liking is an action one can make. Some people tend to fabricate a false image of themselves to seek validation and to be more likable. This statement implies that the idea of liking from a social media standpoint can lead a fake life. I agree Franzen’s concept of like vs love. Liking is only temporary while love is stronger and ever lasting. My relationship with my phone and the internet is rather odd. I don’t have the want to buy the latest devices as long as the one I have works fine, however, when it comes to social media, I do get concerned. I find myself getting lost in it for hours surfing around and finding different posts I like. Also, although I don’t post anymore, when I did I found myself constantly checking to see the amount of likes I get. I try not to get so roped into social media now but the idea of people being interested in what I have to say use to make me feel somewhat powerful. I realize that those feelings are unnecessary for me and so I try move past them, however there are times where they show up again.
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