Vanity Metric
Intermediate Pronunciation
A vanity metric is a number that looks big and reassuring but connects to no real decision or action.
Metrics like “total views” or “follower count” are vanity when reported without context, because their growth does not necessarily translate to user or business value. The antidote is an actionable metric that changes a decision.
FAQ
Ask “if this number doubled, what decision would change?” If you have no answer, it is probably vanity.
No; next to a rate and conversion it is useful. It becomes vanity when reported alone, without context.
Sources:Wikipedia — Vanity metric