You can actually ‘hide likes’ on Instagram now
Say goodbye to anxiety over likes once and for all
Instagram has been testing ‘no likes’ since 2019 but it has never been a permanent feature. They have now finally implemented a discreet and easy way to hide likes from your audience, and it seems like this time it is here to stay. Instagram explained, “Everyone on Instagram will now have the option to hide their public like counts, so they can decide what works for them.”
What’s new?
This feature is available in every single country around the world. Instagram hasn’t only implemented it in a selected few territories, as it has usually done in the past, making the experience inclusive for all users.
“We’re giving you the choice,” - Adam Mosseri, CEO Instagram
For the first time, the user is in charge. Instagram no longer chooses if your likes are hidden, you do. You have the choice of whether or not you want to hide your posts before or after posting. Instagram's CEO Adam Mosseri explained, “What we heard from people and experts was that not seeing like counts was beneficial for some, and annoying to others… so we’re giving you the choice.”
We all know the feeling of when you absolutely love a picture you posted, but you don’t get half the reaction (ok, likes) you were expecting from it… No need to feel embarrassed and delete the post, you can simply hide the likes on that post. There is no time limit for when you can decide to hide your likes.
Instagram has not removed the feature of being able to tap and see who has liked a particular post. This keeps the social aspect of posting a picture intact yet adds a layer of security to the user that if they do not wish to share everything, they can opt out.
How do I ‘hide likes’ on Instagram
It’s very simple. On Instagram, select the three dots in the upper right hand corner above a post, then hit click on ‘Hide Like Count.’ This setting can be turned on or off at anytime. You can also hide likes before posting an image.
Why are Instagram doing this?
Instagram are acutely aware of the possible mental health impacts that the use of their platform has on individuals. It is now making a significant push towards reducing the pressure that their apps can have on users. “We tested hiding like counts to see if it might depressurize people’s experience on Instagram,” says Mosseri.
Being able to control what you post and the visibility of who engages with it gives users more freedom and control over their own content, eventually aiming to make the whole experience stress free and fun (as it was initially intended to be).
What else do you need to know?
For every new feature, there are going to be some people that are unhappy. Whilst most people are still trying to get to grips with Reels and the ever changing algorithm, this is much more of a passive change than we’ve seen before.
Content creators may see this change as a signal that ‘likes aren’t as important anymore’. But by having flexibility with this feature, Instagram hopes that people will use it as it suits them and not negatively impact anybody who do not want to hide their likes.
“We tested hiding like counts to see if it might depressurize people’s experience on Instagram” - Adam Mosseri, CEO Instagram
Overall, Instagram is making a noticeable effort to make the user experience as friendly as it can be. This allows users to not have to overthink when they are deciding to post and to post content they want to share without shame of ‘no likes’ and that’s definitely something we all ‘like’ a lot.
