Here’s why Instagram might HIDE your likes soon
What do you think?
Last updated 25th Apr 2019
Anyone who's posted a photo on Instagram will know how exciting it can be to watch the likes and comments roll in, but this could become a thing of the past if the latest recommendations to social platforms, including Instagram, are taken on board.
The findings from a report by the British Information Commissioner's Office, suggested that features and techniques that encourage people to engage with the social platform should be switched off.
Whilst Instagram and other social platforms can be used to draw attention to celebrities and new products as well as Influencers, it is also believed that it can affect users' mental health and self-esteem.
The report goes on to explain that types of engagement, such as likes, encourage people to stay on the sites longer, which could 'damage their well-being'. So, it's been recommended that those features should be removed entirely from websites where they can't be sure of user's age.
In response to these recommendations, Instagram appears to be trialling hiding the number of likes for some users. According to Twitter user Jane Manchun Wong, she has discovered the new trial which lists a few users who have liked a post, followed by 'others', rather than an exact number of likes.
After clicking on the photo the list of people who like it is then revealed, along with a pop up from Instagram explaining, 'We want your followers to focus on what you share, not how many likes your posts get. During this test, only the person who shared a post will see the total number of likes it gets.'
Now take a look at celebs to follow on Snapchat:
Lewis Capaldi
@LewisCapaldi
Calvin Harris
@CalvinHarris
Perrie Edwards
@perriesnap
Ed Sheeran
@teddysdaytoday
Kylie Jenner
@KylizzleMyNizzl
Harry Styles
@ h.estyles
Ariana Grande
@moonlightbae
Taylor Swift
@taylorswift
Justin Bieber
@RickTheSizzler
Chris Pratt
@chrisprattsnap
Jesy Nelson
@jesynels
Miley Cyrus
@mileycyrus
Rihanna
@rihanna
Niall Horan
@niallhoran
Jade Thirlwall
@justjadeamelia
Kendall Jenner
@kenjen
Zayn Malik
@zayn
Lady Gaga
@ladygaga
Kim Kardashian
@KimKardashian
Leigh-Anne Pinnock
@leigh-annepinn
Selena Gomez
@SelenaGomez
Vicky Pattison
@vickypattison1
Shawn Mendes
@shawnmendes
Jamie Laing
@jamielaing
Craig David
@craigdavid
Chris Hughes
@hchris22
Charlotte Crosby
@clc_17
Usher
@howusnap
Kem Cetinay
@kemcatinay
Gemma Collins
@gemcqueen
Louis Tomlinson
@balmain28
David Guetta
@davidguettaoff
Cara Delevingne
@caradevilqueen
Amber Davies
@amber_davies7
Ferne McCann
@fernemccann
Gigi Hadid
@itsgigihadid
Sam Faiers
@samfaiers1
Ryan Gosling
@rygosg1980
Megan McKenna
@megan-mckenna
Zac Efron
@zacefron87
Kourtney Kardashian
@kourtneykardash
Nick Jonas
@jicknonas
This change only appears to be affecting a few users at the moment, and there is no confirmation to if or when it will be rolled out for everyone.
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