it's just validation.
i just find it weird when people push hard for physical validation because it's objectification.
if people really thought for a second that they were willing participants in objectifying themselves for basic things like clicks, companionship, money, etc, we'd might get a better grasp on purposeful content, or at least raise a question and thought in their minds when they do look for validation.
add that to the fact of how these things like apps are designed. the apps validate your behavior as well...