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Facebook and Instagram likely to hide like counts

Facebook and Instagram likely to hide like counts
by
October 10, 2019
in Marketing, Social Media
233

In a move that has stirred a lot of discussions and debates, social networking platforms Facebook and Instagram are considering removing the like counts from their posts. Starting from Australia, they will expand to other countries depending on how things go. As reported in TechCrunch, users posting content will be able to view their like counts, but it won’t be displayed publicly. This move is aimed at improving the mental health and wellbeing of users by reducing social comparison and pressure.

The Reason Behind This Decision

Over the years, social media platforms have been criticized for their negative impact on mental health. Studies show that the pressure to get likes and the fear of not getting enough likes can lead to anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. In response to these concerns, Instagram tested hiding like counts in 2019 in select countries such as Canada, Australia, Brazil, and Japan. The feedback was positive, with users reporting that they felt less pressure and more freedom to express themselves.

The current decision by Facebook and Instagram to hide like counts is based on the results of the 2019 tests and the growing concern over mental health. Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, stated that “we want Instagram to be a place where people feel comfortable expressing themselves. We hope this test will remove the pressure of how many likes a post will receive so you can focus on sharing the things you love.”

 

likes count

What Will Change?

In the new setup, users will be able to see the like counts on their posts, but their followers won’t. Instead of seeing a number, users will see “liked by [username] and others.” This change will not affect other engagement metrics such as comments, shares, and saves. Users will still be able to see the total number of likes on their posts, but they will not be displayed publicly.

How Will It Affect Social Media Marketing?

One of the concerns that have been raised since the announcement is how this change will affect social media marketing. Likes have always been an important metric for measuring the success of a social media campaign. Social media managers have relied on like counts to gauge the effectiveness of their content and to show the impact of their work to their clients. However, many experts believe that this change will not affect social media marketing significantly. Engagement metrics such as comments and shares are more valuable in measuring the effectiveness of a social media campaign than likes.

The Debate Around This Decision

While many users welcome this decision, others are not happy about it. Some users feel that hiding like counts will make social media less fun and take away the competitive element that makes it exciting. Others feel that hiding likes is not the solution to the problem and that more needs to be done to tackle the root cause of mental health issues caused by social media.

Our Takeaway

Whether users are happy with this change or not, only time will tell. It is evident that social media platforms are taking the issue of mental health seriously and are willing to make changes to improve the wellbeing of their users. Hiding like counts may not be the solution to the problem, but it is a step in the right direction.

FAQs

Q: Will I still be able to see the number of likes on my posts? A: Yes, you will still be able to see the number of likes on your posts, but it won’t be displayed publicly.

Q: Will this affect other engagement metrics such as comments and shares? A: No, this change will not affect other engagement metrics such as comments, shares, and saves.

Q: Why are Facebook and Instagram hiding like counts? A: Facebook and Instagram are hiding like counts to improve the mental health and wellbeing of their users by reducing social comparison and pressure.

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