That's not limited to Lemmy. It's what happens across all social media. A tiny percentage of people will post, a larger percentage will comment, and the vast majority will lurk. The general numbers I've heard thrown around are 1-9-90, but the posters and commenters are probably much lower than 1% and 9%. Especially as platform size increases.
As for why, and this is hazarding a guess: posting takes effort, commenting takes less, and lurking takes the least.
Great question, I honstly dont know, I think if you can answer that you can make a lot of money somewhere lol companies spend millions trying to get people to engage with stuff
I lost count of the times I started typing a post or comment and either couldn't come up with the right phrasing to convey what I want, or just decided that my dumb comment wasn't worth posting.
23 Comments
DocMcStuffin@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 1y
That's not limited to Lemmy. It's what happens across all social media. A tiny percentage of people will post, a larger percentage will comment, and the vast majority will lurk. The general numbers I've heard thrown around are 1-9-90, but the posters and commenters are probably much lower than 1% and 9%. Especially as platform size increases.
As for why, and this is hazarding a guess: posting takes effort, commenting takes less, and lurking takes the least.
Alice@hilariouschaos.com · 0 pts · 1y
Kinda sucks don't you think?
rah@feddit.uk · 1 pts · 1y
No. I prefer signal rather than noise.
MycelialMass@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
Yes, but the more we comment and post the more likely it is new memebers will stay which eventually leads to more posters and commenters
Alice@hilariouschaos.com · 2 pts · 1y
What incentives them to start participating and not lurk anymore?
MycelialMass@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
Great question, I honstly dont know, I think if you can answer that you can make a lot of money somewhere lol companies spend millions trying to get people to engage with stuff
Alice@hilariouschaos.com · 1 pts · 1y
Man that's so true. Good point. It gets tiring being only one of the few to post stuff. Wish more ppl made that effort
WraithGear@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 1y
I don’t think the ratio is that far off from reddit. Getting involved takes effort. Up votes take none
Alice@hilariouschaos.com · 0 pts · 1y
True. But isn't that boring though?
WraithGear@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
Depends on the person i guess. Most seem content just scrolling. shrug
Alice@hilariouschaos.com · 1 pts · 1y
Yea it's annoying honestly
ExtraMedicated@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 1y
I lost count of the times I started typing a post or comment and either couldn't come up with the right phrasing to convey what I want, or just decided that my dumb comment wasn't worth posting.
Alice@hilariouschaos.com · 3 pts · 1y
Over analysis paralysis
ExtraMedicated@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
Exactly.
Alice@hilariouschaos.com · 1 pts · 1y
I feel that
midsummer@hilariouschaos.com · 2 pts · 1y
It is easier to read than to type
Lovstuhagen@hilariouschaos.com · 2 pts · 1y
I think most people treat it as a news/content aggregator service...
Much of the time the perfect comment has also already been made.
Alice@hilariouschaos.com · 1 pts · 1y
Yea true, that's a good point
rah@feddit.uk · 1 pts · 1y
What makes you think they do that?
MushroomsEverywhere@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
That's just who I am. A lurker by nature. A browser in the night. I'm... Lurkman?
Alice@hilariouschaos.com · 1 pts · 1y
What makes you not want to post?
frankenswine@lemmy.world · -2 pts · 1y
yes
Alice@hilariouschaos.com · 0 pts · 1y
But why though