Instagram has announced that it is expanding its trial of hidden like counts to users around the world. The company has been hiding likes for some users in some countries since earlier this year. The test was run in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Ireland, Italy, Japan, and New Zealand earlier this year. So, if you are unable to see the number of likes on another user’s post, it’s because you have been included in this test.
Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, said that this was intended to make Instagram less of a cutthroat place: “The idea is to try to ‘depressurize’ Instagram, make it less of a competition and give people more space to focus on connecting with people that they love, things that inspire them.”
Starting today, we’re expanding our test of private like counts globally. If you’re in the test, you’ll no longer see the total number of likes and views on photos and videos posted to Feed unless they’re your own. pic.twitter.com/DztSH0xiq2
— Instagram (@instagram) November 14, 2019
However, Nicki Minaj said that she won’t post to Instagram because they’re “removing the likes” and also said in a now-deleted tweetstorm that Instagram like counts help empower independent artists. Cardi B said that the comment likes are more harmful than likes themselves, as they allow people to reward harmful backchat to otherwise positive posts.
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