[chrisaycock]

If people felt they had "done something" with the upvote, why would they feel the need to intervene for real?

One of the negative consequences of social media in general is that it can lead to very casual and even cynical views of how we relate to one another. Thus, what was meant to bring people together can actually make them more emotionally distant. If I see a hundred stories of trouble in the world, why would I take action on even one of those troubles?