> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://toodlepip.co.uk/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Social Proof of Twitter Buttons Is Out For The Count - URL: https://toodlepip.co.uk/social-proof-twitter-damaged/ - Published: 2016-01-06T01:02:31.000Z - Updated: 2016-01-07T07:08:53.000Z - Author: Sam Michel - Tags: Marketing, Social, nyr2016, twitter, #2, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-10-23 15:06 <[tl;dr](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=tl%3Bdr&ref=toodlepip.co.uk)\> Twitter buttons stopped showing how many times a page is shared damaging social proof and potentially their own growth. ### The count is down On 20, November 2015 millions, if not billions, of Twitter buttons stopped displaying the numbers of shares. Whilst Facebook, Linkedin and others still show the counts, the Twitter share button sits there number-less. *Why?* Twitter [cited](https://blog.twitter.com/2015/hard-decisions-for-a-sustainable-platform?ref=toodlepip.co.uk) engineering challenges, most other share buttons not including a count and that 3rd party buttons had been using an unofficial API to collect the information. Predictably the [Internet, particularly the blogosphere went bonkers](http://warfareplugins.com/is-twitter-seriously-removing-share-counts-why-would-they-do-this/?utm%5Fsource=twitter&utm%5Fmedium=social&utm%5Fcampaign=SocialWarfare), especially bloggers, publishers and social sharing tool producers. Yes, but why, *really*? The debate boiled down to Twitter needs the cash / wants control / it was unofficial / you shouldn’t care about those metrics anyway. Fortunately, a [bunch of alternatives](#alternatives) quickly appeared, although the longevity of some of these might be questionable. ### Social proof goes poof The main complaints about Twitter’s disappearing share count are the damage to [social proof](http://www.lucifereffect.com/guide%5Fcialdini-c.htm?ref=toodlepip.co.uk), one of the [Robert Cialdini](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert%5FCialdini?ref=toodlepip.co.uk#Six%5Fkey%5Fprinciples%5Fof%5Finfluence)‘s [six principles of persuasion](http://conversionxl.com/how-to-use-cialdinis-6-principles-of-persuasion-to-boost-conversions/?ref=toodlepip.co.uk). Here’s a rather splendid animation that covers all of them… So, social proof *is* rather important in establishing the credibility of a web page and one of the key factors at play for spreading content across social networks and engaging users. Sure, share counts can be a vanity metric. Yes, they can be gamed. But that share count *does* create social proof, even if it’s later punctured. Most [content shared hasn’t even been read](http://blog.chartbeat.com/2014/03/10/4-myths-web-ceo-tony-haile/?ref=toodlepip.co.uk). That might not bother larger publishers, many of whom have dropped counts and can afford the tools or the raw data from Twitter – that’ll be $300-$5,000/month, pretty please – but for smaller sites that’s not an affordable option. Twitter has a bunch of problems: a [falling share price](https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/questor-share-tip-sell-twitter-172005149.html?ref=toodlepip.co.uk), a [shared CEO](http://www.cnbc.com/2015/10/05/twiiter-names-jack-dorsey-ceo-will-continue-on-as-ceo-of-square.html?ref=toodlepip.co.uk), a [culled engineering team](http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/oct/14/twitter-better-remember-who-monetises-its-tweets?ref=toodlepip.co.uk) but these structural issues are under the surface. Now in a very public move, Twitter has damaged its own social proof by removing those counts. The new Twitter share buttons are relegated to screen furniture rather than living, breathing indicators of user engagement, interest and the social flow of content. Further, they discourage webmasters, publishers and bloggers by removing the feedback, analytics and let’s face it, instant gratification of shared content. Not for the first time, the company has also delivered a kick in the teeth to the developer community, too. The removal of access to this data, without paying, means many of the sharing and analytics tools will have to be rewritten. Sure this move benefits the engineering team and the bottom line, but with [falling user growth](http://techcrunch.com/2015/12/24/twitters-fiscal-2015-up-flat-and-down/?ref=toodlepip.co.uk#.xyyib3:CgT8), it seems like a daft time to be tinkering with a simple mechanism for user engagement. ### Alternative Twitter share counts Is your Twitter button busted? Here are some alternatives / fixes: - [OpenShareCount](http://opensharecount.com/?ref=toodlepip.co.uk) from LeadStories - [NewShareCounts](http://newsharecounts.com/?ref=toodlepip.co.uk) - [BuzzSumo has a Chrome extension](http://buzzsumo.com/blog/twitter-share-counts-in-your-browser-new-buzzsumo-chrome-extension/?ref=toodlepip.co.uk) for page analytics *The post is part of my* [*2016 New Year’s resolution*](https://toodlepip.co.uk/i-write-a-book-each-month-you-probably-do-too-writing-for-myself/)*, day #2 to be precise, to try writing a post every day for 30 working days. Here’s the* [*post that kicked things off*](https://toodlepip.co.uk/i-write-a-book-each-month-you-probably-do-too-writing-for-myself/) *and here’s the* [*full list*](https://toodlepip.co.uk/tag/nyr2016/)*. It gets easier, right? You’ll also find more of this and other stuff* [*@toodlepip*](http://twitter.com/toodlepip?ref=toodlepip.co.uk) *and on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/sammichel)*.* Photo (cc) 278365.numbers by [Dang Nguyen](https://www.flickr.com/people/dangpix/?ref=toodlepip.co.uk) on [Flickr](https://www.flickr.com/photos/dangpix/18612937654?ref=toodlepip.co.uk). --- ### Comments from the original blog *These comments were left on the original WordPress version of this post and are kept for reference. Comments are closed.* **Artur Brugeman (@ArturBrugeman)** · 6 January 2016 Hi, Sam. Nice summary on what many people feel about Twitter’s decision! Thank you for mentioning NewShareCounts too! Why wouldn’t you use one of these alternatives here on your website? It would literally take a couple of minutes to make your Tweet button show share counts again. Cheers! **Sam Michel (author)** · 6 January 2016 Thanks Artur, I had a look last night and will get round to it at some point. It’s a daft decision, making everyone do extra work to keep Twitter’s audience engaged. Also, unless I’m mistaken the way that NewShareCount works is much less efficient (for Twitter) than the old method. Anyway, thanks so much for putting the tool together. Top work! I’m using the Digg Digg plugin on this blog, which is pretty old and probably needs updating. Which sharing plugin would you recommend?