Instagram Hides Like Counts in Global Mental Health Test
Instagram is hiding public like counts for select users across seven countries to see if it improves the platform experience. The test aims to shift user focus away from popularity metrics and toward the actual content being shared.
Instagram rolls out a new test that hides public like counts and video view numbers for select users across seven countries. While people can no longer see the popularity metrics on other users' posts, they still have access to their own like and view data. A company spokesperson explains that the goal is to encourage followers to focus on the photos and videos themselves rather than the numbers they receive.
The online reaction to this change remains mixed, with some users complaining that nobody asked for the feature while others, including celebrities, welcome the shift. Instagram first began this experiment in Canada last May and now expands it to gather better feedback from its global community. The company states it looks forward to learning how this adjustment benefits the overall user experience.
This test stems from growing concerns about social media addiction and mental health, as studies show that like notifications trigger a dopamine rush similar to gambling. A 2017 study even labels Instagram as the worst social media platform for young people's mental well-being. The hidden likes feature arrives alongside other new wellness tools, such as the Restrict anti-bullying feature and new alerts for accounts at risk of being disabled.