Instagram users can now hide the Like counter on posts and feeds. The feature will also be rolled out to Facebook in the coming weeks, the company announced on Wednesday.

The feature was tested on Instagram over the past few weeks to determine if it can ‘depressurise people’s experience on Instagram.’ According to Facebook, hiding the like counts was, in fact, beneficial for some users, while others were annoyed by the new feature. 

Hiding Likes

Facebook and Instagram users will have the ability to hide their like count on all the posts on their profile and feed. Instagram claims this should help users focus more on the posts being shared rather than the number of likes they get. 

There’s a new Posts section in the settings where users can control whether or not they want to see like counts, control tags, and whether they want to approve tags manually.

Users can also choose to hide like counts when uploading a new post, and the setting can be toggled even after the post goes live.

As mentioned above, both these settings will be rolling out to Facebook in the coming weeks. 

Collaborations with creators and experts

Facebook further added that they’ve been working with third-party experts to understand ‘how to empower people, build self-awareness and shape a more positive experience on Instagram.’

The company has collaborated with The Jed Foundation and creators like Bunny Micheal and  Schuyler Bailar to create a new Instagram guide to help people manage pressure online. 

They also claim to be funding research to better understand people’s experiences on the platform and improve policies and products to support the community. The company is currently requesting research proposals from non-profit organisations and global academics. Interested individuals can check out this link for more information on how to apply. 

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