Why do people love being “first”?
I’ve noticed YouTube and TikTok now incentivise people to be the first to like or comment on a post.
On YouTube, you get a burst of confetti and a message saying you were first.
On TikTok, your comment gets a little “first” badge.
So why do they do this and why does it work?
At a platform level, it’s simple. Engagement signals to the algorithm that a post is interesting and should be shared more widely.
But what’s in it for the user?
Two things: status and stimulation.
Being early to a trend gives a small sense of prestige – a moment of visibility that says, “I was here before everyone else.” It’s micro-status, and our brains love it.
And that burst of confetti or “first” badge is more than decoration.
It’s a fast feedback loop that rewards behaviour instantly, creating a small dopamine hit, which reinforces the habit.
But this doesn’t just apply to social media.
Your colleagues and customers will respond to the same cues: timely recognition, visibility and the feeling of being “seen”.
Because at our core, we all want to feel like what we do matters.
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