Instagram and Facebook will start to roll out one highly requested feature on their platforms – options to manage the likes count feature on users posts.
Instagram was the first to remove public like counts in early 2019. This test went global a few months later.
Starting this week, both social media platforms will give users the options to better manage the likes count.
You’ll now be able to turn on or off Like and View counts on posts both yours and those that appear on your feed.
You can choose to hide the like count before sharing a post. This setting can be enebled or disabled even after your post is uploaded to the feed by simply tapping the three-dot icon on a post and then choose Hide Like Count.
To hide other people’s like count, Instagram is adding new Posts sections in Settings controls. Go to profile, tap the three-line icon, scroll to Settings and then select Privacy and then go to Posts and enable or disable the hide like and View Counts option.
Enabling this feature will apply to all the posts seen in your feed.
This feature will be available in the “Settings & Privacy” area under News Feed Settings for its Facebook apps and under News Feed Preferences on desktop.
Tap the three-line icon in the bottom right corner., scroll down to Settings and Privacy option and select Settings. While you’re here, scroll down to the News Feed Settings and select Reaction Counts. You can now enable or disable reactions not only for others’ posts but yours too.
You will be able to toggle these options on and off to hide the number of reactions either on posts from others or on your posts even the ones you published awhile ago.
Instagram giving users the option to manage the public likes count will ease the pressure on the platform for its younger audiences.
“BEFORE IT FELT LIKE ONE HUGE COMPETITION AND NOW IT’S RELAXING AND FREEING.”
Bringing these new options also has to do with how creators and brands value this engagement metric.
Instagram adds that they’re funding more external research about people’s experiences on its platform, and how they can improve its policies and products to support the community.
They’re currently requesting research proposals from global academics and non-profits. If you’re interested you can find more information here on how to submit.
