With heated debates going around all over the world on issues like mental health, self-worth and anxiety, the trending photo-sharing app, Instagram has started a testing initiative by hiding the number of likes on posts shared. Aiming to reduce the percentage of low self-esteem, Instagram users will only be able to see the number of likes on their own pictures, but not others’.
A spokesperson for Facebook, which owns Instagram, told CNN, “We understand that the number of likes is an important metric for many creators, and while this test is in exploratory stages, we are thinking through ways for creators to communicate value to their partners.”
Furthermore, Instagram’s head Adam Mosseri told Gayle King, “We don’t want Instagram to be such a competition. We want it to be a place where people spend more of their energy connecting with the people that they love and the things that they care about,”
The Facebook-owned app started hiding likes earlier this year in April in Canada, and later in Ireland, Brazil, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, and Italy. Now, the experiment has expanded to the UAE and neighboring countries like India. On November 14, the Twitter account of the app stated, “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.”
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
So far, the app makers have reported that the outcome and feedback of this testing has been positive but it is going to be practiced more before a grand update is rolled out for all users. Many celebrities have also shared their opinion on this initiative. While beauty mogul Kim Kardashian West supports and agrees with Instagram’s decision, rapper and songwriter Nicki Minaj seems to be against it as she took to Twitter to announce that she will no longer use the app.
I’m not posting on IG after this week cuz they removing the likes. Hmmmm what should I get into now? Think of all the time I’ll have with my new life
— Mrs. Petty (@NICKIMINAJ) November 9, 2019
Read Next: UAE May Soon Lift Ban On WhatsApp Calls
