Instagram Removes Likes From Platform

Instagram is now removing the ‘likes’ count from posts, but they aren’t completely gone. You can still view the like count on your own photos and videos — just not posts from others. Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram said that removing likes was “about creating a less pressurized environment where people feel comfortable expressing themselves.” Instagram says it’s “because [they] want your followers to focus on the photos and videos you share, not how many likes they get.” When likes are public, people care too much about them, and if a post doesn’t get enough likes, people delete them to make it seem like all of their photos are hits. By deleting this feature, more people would be more inclined to post what they like and wouldn’t compare themselves to others. Personally, I think this is a great idea; by shifting the focus from a popularity game to a safe space where people can share interests, users would be happier and enjoy Instagram more. Hopefully, mental health would begin to increase positively as people would stop comparing and judging others. While this might be a shock to many social influencers, those who depend on likes and followers, Instagram is taking a step in the right direction for the everyday person.