I've noticed that the hourglasses with the most likes are in places that are "hard" to reach, little areas that are explored through curiosity and not because of any reward. In the painting island this happens in the bamboo forest at the very start, reached if you ignore the raft and the cries for help, or if you find how to get back there. This also happens in death stranding where the largest communal pissing spot is at the top of the highest mountain where there's nothing else to do.