Instagram would like to remove the like counter from posts, so users don’t just look at the numbers. Why it will surprise you
What would Instagram look like without the like count under each post? But more importantly, how would Instagrammers and influencers of all kinds take it if this new feature was introduced? They are not two questions out of the air, because Instagram is really testing this option as Jane Manchun Wong, an expert in “reverse engineering” has discovered by analyzing a beta version of the app for Android.
It would not be the next version of the application, so the likes from Instagram posts will not disappear anytime soon. On the contrary, the one analyzed by Wong is an internal beta for developers and, in addition to the disappearance of the like count, it also contains other small changes. Speaking to TechCrunch, an Instagram spokesperson referring to the likes said, “We’re not testing it at the moment, but exploring ways to reduce pressure on Instagram is something we’re always thinking about.”
How are Instagram posts without the likes
Jane Manchun Wong showed screenshots of these new Instagram posts without the like count. What’s interesting is that there is no reaction count but there is an inscription that states, “We want your followers to focus on what you share, not how many likes your posts get. During this test, only the person who shared the post will see the total number of likes received.”
Why Instagram is hiding the number of likes
At this point, even though the number of likes isn’t going away anytime soon, one has to wonder why such a test is being done. The first answer is the one provided by Instagram itself: to take pressure off the image-based social. A questionable post that garners a lot of likes embarrasses Instagram more than the user who shared it. But, that’s not all: how will the opinion we, and especially companies that invest in advertising and influencers, have of Instagram change when the number of likes naturally drops due to the fact that the platform will have aged and started to go out of style?
Other Instagram innovations being tested
Always Wong noted other minor innovations being tested on the same beta of the Instagram app. For example, the ability to send stickers within Instagram Direct messages. Stickers that could also be used to create new Lyrics for songs. Finally, also on Direct, in the beta seen by Wong you can use augmented reality stickers and watch a video together in video calls.