Instagram Is Testing Hiding a Post's Like Count



New screenshots suggest Instagram is toying with the idea of hiding the number of likes a photo has received. If rolled out, the change would alter the entire dynamic of the platform, given that many influencers rely on their likes count for business purposes.

As per TechCrunch, reverse engineering expert Jane Manchun Wong came across the potential new feature in Instagram’s Android code, screenshotting her findings. Adding weight to her findings, Wong has previously been behind the first look of several Instagram features before they’d been been officially announced.

One of the screenshots of the new feature sees Instagram describe the move:

We want your followers to focus on what you share, not how many likes your posts get. During this test, only the person who shares a post will see the total number of likes it gets.

Instead, posts now read “Liked by X and others,” with no number specified. “Only you can see the total number of likes on your post,” it reads.

For now, Instagram confirmed to TechCrunch the feature is an internal prototype and not accessible to the public: We’re not testing this at the moment, but exploring ways to reduce pressure on Instagram is something we’re always thinking about.

The move would be game-changing among its users of all ages, holding the potential to remove the popularity contest aspect of the platform.

Lead image credit: Pixabay via Pexels.



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