What If Instagram Started Hiding Likes?

A month ago as I was driving to work, I was listening to KIIS FM. Ryan Seacrest and Sisanie brought up an interesting topic in their conversation topic of their morning: Instagram Hiding Likes.

According to online magazine Time, Instagram starts test to hide the number of likes a posts receive for users in 6 Countries. So far those countries are Australia, Brazil, Ireland, Italy, Japan, and New Zealand.

Time stated that the company tweeted that they were “looking forward to learning more about how this change might benefit everyone’s experience on Instagram.” Also a spokesperson for Instagram told TIME that they were testing out the change because “we want your followers to focus on the photos and videos you share, not how many likes they get.”

I thought it would be interesting to ask around what Instagram users thought of Instagram starting to test hiding likes in the United States.

Gregory Gamwell from Massachusetts is not for it, “I think society has gone South, and I think it’s a business move so people can pay to view hidden likes moving society further down” Gamwell stated.

If Instagram were to try that here in the United States, Gamwell thinks that anxiety and depression will increase and he thinks it is immoral because the testing can possibly be a lead up to added charges to Instagram users and soon customers on the future.

As a father Gamwell suggests that Instagram is useful but is harmful to attentions seekers. According to the Massachusetts resident, he believes that using Instagram at a young age will progress bad habits such as constantly c checking his/her phone while walking or driving. Having three kids he strongly believes that using imagination is very important as a child.

While Brittany Cloobeck is also no for it, she also has an idea why Instagram would hide likes. Cloobeck is an alumna from Chapman University and the head of Instagram @gilmoregirlsonly with 63.6k followers.

As an influencer or someone who has partnerships or giveaways with companies, the Chapman University alumna thinks this will 100% change how businesses use Instagram.

According to Cloobeck, from a business standpoint, she definitely is going to reconsider how to determine her engagements and reach per post . “ People contact me to do sponsored posts and because of the amount of likes I get per post:, Cloobeck stated.

Although as a human standpoint Cloobeck feels that this would be good because Instagram is addicting and people crave attention. She is guilty of posting something and immediately refreshing the likes to see who likes it and when.

Likewise Texas resident and Instagram user Nico de la Pena expressed that he too is not for it. Texas resident said, “ For example, take an artist who posts their work, if you can’t see the likes then how would you know if their content is good?”

Additionally, Rebecca Aguila, Cerritos College student and a free lancer write for Talon Marks is not for it and when asked if this were to happen to us users in the United States, what would be their reason… the Cerritos College student explained, “ Instagram may want to charge us to see who liked our pictures and videos since it is something that is becoming so valuable in out society. So I think they will start charging us to see who those people are.”

Boston University student Chad Max is again not for it because he does understand that the reason for possibly doing this is because it is a self-esteem issue but, “I think people should be able to recognize for themselves when social media is toxic and take a break.”

“I don’t think Instagram or any social media platform should be sacrificing the sociability of their site to make up for [people’s own lack of persona;l judgement if that was the case”, Max stated.

All but one person within these interviews was for Instagram possibly hiding likes for users here in the United States. California resident and visual artist Michelle Lim, expressed how we live in a society that is influenced by social media.

“I chose for Instagram to hide likes because I feel like many individuals are dependent on those likes that cause them to become someone they are not…I am not saying it is a bad thing to be an influencer, but it’s the likes and the follows that change a person and I feel hiding likes would help take away from that.”

Inc Magazine just stated the reason why Instagram is now hiding likes in six countries. According to Inc, “Instagram has been toying around with features they're claiming will make their platform a safer place for their users -- from hiding Likes to their recent anti-bullying updates. 

While the intention behind these features might be well and good, the changes make the product deviate from the core things that made Instagram spread like wildfire in the first place -- specifically by the platform deciding which content you see versus the end user being in control of their in-app experience”

I think most of the Instagram users I interviewed are thankful this hasn’t happened in the United States because a lot of them use Instagram as a business tool to promote their content. I for one understand why Instagram started this but at the same time I try my best to create content and promote my brand and if no one sees who likes it then how would my new followers know if people like my content or not? Again, I support mental illness and anti-bullying organizations but, there are a lot of people who make a livelihood and promote businesses through Instagram and hiding those likes would hide if people like their content or not.

What do you think?