Instagram To Let Users Hide ‘Likes’

Instagram has announced it is working on letting users hide “like” counts in an effort to ease the pressure of seeking approval from others.

The pic-sharing app said if an experiment shows the option is a hit, it could be made permanent and even extended to Facebook.

“In 2019, we started hiding like counts for a small group of people to understand if it lessens some pressure when posting to Instagram,” a Facebook spokesperson told AFP.

“Some people found this beneficial but some still wanted to see like counts so they could track what’s popular.”

Instagram is letting a small number of users around the world decide whether to show “like” counts on their posts or see them on content shared by other people.

“We’re testing this on Instagram to start, but we’re also exploring a similar experience for Facebook,” the spokesperson said.

Running tallies of how many people signal they like posts at social networks can be seen as status symbols or indicators of worth, raising mental health concerns

There are also concerns that the unquenchable thirst for “likes” can be addictive and have devastating effects, particularly for younger people.