Need for approval (clout chasing)
Overview
The need for approval is the basic human desire to be recognized and valued by others. In Maslow's hierarchy of needs, it sits above physiological needs and safety needs. In the context of social media, it shows up as a fixation on ratings turned into numbers, such as likes, followers, and reposts. The English term clout chasing (chasing influence) refers to behavior aimed at gaining attention and influence.
Question boxes and the need for approval
A question box can work as a tool for satisfying the need for approval in a healthy way. The very act of a follower thinking "I want to ask you something" is a sign of interest in and approval of the owner. Answering a question and getting reactions like "Great answer!" from followers can help support your self-esteem.
On the other hand, a question box also carries the risk of feeding a runaway need for approval. You swing between highs and lows over the number of questions and likes, and when the numbers drop, you feel as if your self-worth has dropped too. You make extreme statements aiming for answers that go viral. You get anxious that no questions are coming and send questions to yourself. All of these are states where the need for approval has outweighed the fun of the question box.
A healthy relationship with the need for approval
The need for approval itself isn't a bad thing. Wanting to be recognized by others can also motivate you to write better answers. The problem is when the need for approval becomes your only motive for acting and you get pushed around by the numbers.
The key to a healthy relationship is to tell "external evaluation" apart from "inner satisfaction." The number of likes is external evaluation, and you can't control it. Inner satisfaction, like "I wrote this answer well by my own standards," is something you can judge by your own measure. Not depending on external evaluation and valuing inner satisfaction is the secret to enjoying a question box for a long time.
Set days when you don't look at the numbers
One way to keep your distance from the need for approval is to deliberately set days when you don't look at the numbers. Set aside 1 to 2 days a week when you don't check your likes, followers, or number of questions. You can run a question box without looking at the numbers, and your relationships with followers won't change.
Once you step away from the numbers, you can return to the original point of view: not "How many likes will this answer get?" but "How can I answer this question in a way that makes the sender happy?" The heart of a question box is not collecting numbers but communication between people. The numbers come as a result of that, and they aren't something to make your goal.