Vanity metrics are a trap

A vanity metric is one that reliably goes up and reliably tells you nothing actionable. Raw follower count is the classic example. It feels like progress. It rarely predicts anything you care about.

The danger isn’t that vanity metrics are useless — it’s that they’re persuasive. They give you a number to chase, and chasing it feels like work. Meanwhile the metric that actually drives your outcome sits unwatched.

A quick test for any metric you track:

1. If it doubled tomorrow, would your real goal measurably improve?
2. Can you point to the specific decision it changes?
3. Is it the signal this platform actually rewards?

If the answers are no, no, and no — you’re looking at noise dressed up as a scoreboard. Drop it.