Australian Instagram users will no longer be able to see the number of “likes” others’ posts have received, in a bid to take the “pressure” off the social media tool.
Users will still be able to see how many likes their content racks up, but they won’t be able to compare it to others. If you are genuinely that curious/self-destructive, you’ll be able to click through and sift through the list of people who liked the post.
Influencers and businesses fear not, the new changes won’t affect how you measure the success of your content; all the necessary tools and metrics will still be available.
The trial was first implemented in Canada earlier this year, it is set to reach New Zealand, Japan, Ireland, Italy and Brazil later in the year. In a statement, Facebook Australia and New Zealand director of policy Mia Garlick stressed that Instagram should be a positive way for people to share their experience.
“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,” she said in a statement.
“We are now rolling the test out to Australia so we can learn more about how this can benefit people’s experiences on Instagram, and whether this change can help people focus less on likes and more on telling their story.”
https://www.facebook.com/InstagramEnglish/photos/a.377385668962161/2633878793312826/?type=3&theater
With Splendour In The Grass just around the corner, this announcement could not have come at a better time. I’m not afraid to admit that I’m a victim of Instagram’s hellish feedback loop. I can’t wait for my first festival experience in years where I’m not paranoid about how many likes my photo has racked up compared to others.
