Maybelike

Maybelike is a term used in media studies and popular discourse to describe a style of online content that prioritizes likability and shareability, often in alignment with the goals of social media algorithms to maximize engagement.

The coinage has no single author or date of origin and appears across academic and journalistic writing as a descriptive label for a trend rather than a formal theory.

Maybelike content tends to be upbeat, visually bright, and easily digestible; it often employs concise captions, list formats, personal anecdotes, and aspirational framing to invite quick engagement and sharing.

The concept is encountered across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and microblogging sites, and is used to analyze cross-platform practices rather than to promote a specific channel.

Supporters argue that it lowers barriers to content creation and helps communities discover relatable material; critics contend that Maybelike encourages superficiality, homogenization of formats, and amplification of misinformation when sensational.

Related concepts include social media aesthetics, clickbait, the like economy, and algorithmic curation.