The photo-sharing social media site announced the latest test following mixed reactions to previous experiments where the feature was removed.
What We Know:
- On Wednesday, the Facebook-owned site launched a limited global test where users were given the option to hide like counts on other people’s posts or their own. NBC reported the test is a follow-up to previous efforts by the company to remove likes.
- Likes are commonly used to measure engagement on a post, but sometimes this gets equated as a measure of popularity. According to a Facebook spokesperson, the company began testing the feature in 2019.
- In a statement, the spokesperson said the test was done to see if removing likes lessened the pressure users experience when posting. “Some people found this beneficial but some still wanted to see like counts so they could track what’s popular,” said the spokesperson.
- Last month, Instagram conducted a small test where likes were removed for some users. The test accidentally was expanded to include larger numbers of users, prompting many to express their disapproval for the removal of likes. Some found the change positive for mental health. Others pointed out how professional “influencers” are reliant on likes to measure their engagement.
Ppl gettin mad about not seeing the number of likes they receive on ig bcuz they use that as some sort of validation currency shows is how deeply twisted and vain we are. Did Instagram reveal how we are reliant on social media for our sense of worth and self esteem? Yes it did.
— Imani (@Sleezies) March 3, 2021
- The last major feature that was added to Instagram was Reels. The feature consists of 15-second multi-clip videos designed to capitalize on and compete with the success of rival site TikTok.
The users involved in the test can still privately view their own like count. The company did not indicate how many people tested the new feature other than to say it was a small percentage of global users.
