Instagram is trialing a new feature that lets you choose whether you want to hide your likes, and here’s how to do it.
Every month, Instagram introduces new features to keep its app new, exciting and safe for users.
For years, they’ve been toying with the idea of removing like counts to combat the negative effects likes can have on people’s mental health, and it’s now becoming a reality for some users.
The latest trial lets users choose whether they want to have like counts visible or hidden, and here’s how to do it.
Instagram is letting some users remove like counts
This week, Instagram has launched a new test that lets some people choose whether they want their likes to be visible to their followers.
The new test has only been enabled for a small percentage of users around the world, and it’s unknown how long the feature will be available for.
Instagram has previously tested removing likes completely, but that didn’t go down very well amongst many users, which is why they are trailing this new idea of giving users the choice.
Liza Crenshaw, a spokesperson for Instagram told The Washington Post:
“That’s why we’re testing this new option that lets our community decide the experience that’s best for them — whether that’s choosing not to see like counts on anyone else’s posts or simply turning them off for your own posts, or keeping the original experience.”
“We hope that by giving people a way to choose how they want to experience Instagram and likes, they will be able to focus more on the photos and videos posted in Feed, and that this will ultimately drive deeper engagement,” she continued.
How to hide your Instagram likes
If your account has been opted into the new trial, you should be greeted with a banner when you open the Instagram app that says “choose how you see likes on posts”.
Underneath this, a message will say: “You can now hide like counts on people’s posts so that it’s easier to stay focused on what they share. You can also hide like counts on your own posts.”
Tap ‘go to settings’ and you will be given an option to hide your likes.
If you do not receive this message, you haven’t been opted into the trial and are unable to hide your likes at the moment.
Why is Instagram hiding likes?
Back in 2019, Instagram announced that it would be taking away likes to combat the negative effect that likes can have on people’s mental health.
Instagram believes that its users can become too consumed by the number of likes they receive on posts and argue that it can take the enjoyment out of the app.
Many people weren’t happy about the change, but Instagram’s CEO Adam Mosseri told Wired: “We will make decisions that hurt the business if they help people’s well-being and health.”
He added that it was all “about creating a less pressurized environment where people feel comfortable expressing themselves.”