Likes measure attention. We wanted to measure something better.
Why OpenUp is built around Kindness instead of the usual popularity contest.
By OpenUp Editorial ·
The problem with a scoreboard
Open almost any social app and the score is obvious: followers, likes, views, streaks and shares. Those numbers can be useful, but they also turn ordinary expression into a public result. Before posting, people begin asking whether a thought is interesting enough, attractive enough or dramatic enough.
That pressure is especially strange when the post is about pain. A difficult day should not need to perform well before it deserves care.
Removing likes was not enough
We could have hidden every number and stopped there. But products still need to show what kind of behaviour belongs in the community. If OpenUp values thoughtful support, the design should make that visible.
That is where the Kindness Score came from. It is not based on how often you post, how many followers you collect or how much attention your profile receives.
How a Kindness point is earned
When you leave a supportive comment, the person who received it can mark that response as kind or helpful. That action adds to your Kindness Score. The important part is that the receiver, not an algorithm, recognises the value of the response.
A Hug is different. It is a quick sign of presence, useful when words are not needed. Kindness points are meant for the comments that genuinely helped.
The score is not a moral ranking
We need to be careful here. No number can tell us who is a good person. A new member may be deeply kind and have a score of zero. Somebody may support others privately. Language, time, confidence and access all affect how people participate.
The score is a product signal, not a verdict on character. If it starts creating pressure, competition or gaming, we should change it. Building around kindness only matters if we are honest about those risks.
What a useful reply looks like
It usually begins with the actual post. Mention something specific so the person knows you read it. Do not diagnose them or make their experience about you. Ask whether they want listening, suggestions or simply company.
A short sincere reply can be better than a long speech. ‘That sounds exhausting. I am glad you said it somewhere’ may do more than five paragraphs of generic motivation.
Help us prove the idea
OpenUp is still growing, and the community will decide whether this idea works. Share an experience, support somebody else and tell us when a feature feels wrong. We would rather improve the system than defend it.
You can try the kindness-first community at openupzone.com.