After years of Instagram hiding like counts, users now have the option of whether to hide their own posts like counts and other users like counts. In line with this change, for the first time ever, Facebook now allows users to hide the number of reactions on posts.
This change brings the debate over preferences to an end - satisfying people on both sides. There are certainly pros and cons to both options - however, now, it can be left down to the profile owner, allowing them to take control.
Why did Instagram hide like counts to begin with? You may be asking yourself. Social media had become a negative impact on body image and mental health. Originally, Instagram’s aim was to depressurize Instagram by reducing the competition and instead allowing users to grow a connection with people and images that inspire them.
However, the experiment found the move didn’t necessarily depressurize Instagram. Instagram Chief Adam Mosseri said that experts found the implementation was positive for some users but removed the ability to gain an idea of what is trending. For this reason, many users weren’t in favour of the update.
To please all users, Instagram decided to leave it open to the floor. Instagram has automatically switched the visibility back on. Here is how to hide your like counts from other users...
How to hide your like counts on Instagram:
This has to be done for each individual post and can be found under Advanced Settings when you create your post.
- Click the plus sign as you usually would when creating a post
- Choose your image
- Click Next
- Scroll to the bottom and click Advanced Settings
- Turn the toggle on for hiding Like and View Counts on This Post
How to hide like counts on other users’ Instagrams:
- Click into Settings.
- Click Privacy
- Click Posts
- Turn the toggle on for hiding Like and View Counts
How to hide react counts on Facebook:
With both Instagram and Facebook being owned by the same company, these changes are also being implemented on Facebook. This means for the first time ever, you actually have the option to hide the number of reactions on your posts and other people’s posts. Here is how…
- Click the down arrow in the top right corner of your page
- Click Settings & Privacy
- Click Newsfeed Preferences
- Click Reaction Preferences
- Turn the toggle on to hide likes
How does the like count visibility affect businesses and influencer marketing?
The new feature allowing influencers to once again show their likes makes it easier for both parties - influencers and businesses. Engagement is crucial in marketing and it essentially determines their ROI. For this reason, when businesses choose who they partner with, they need to be aware of engagement rates.
While one influencer may have 10K followers, they may only receive 50 likes and 500 views on each post. Likewise, an influencer with 5K followers may receive 800 likes and 6000 views. Having the like count on show removes the step of needing to reach out to influencers for insights, and additionally waste time liaising with influencers who have low engagement. The like visibility, therefore, saves time for both parties by revealing the engagement numbers immediately.
As social media evolves, companies continue to make changes to their platforms to please audiences. Let’s take Tiktok and reels as an example of new features going viral, encouraging platforms to adapt and keep up with the newfound popularity of videos.
The introduction of stories mimicking Snapchat, then reels mimicking Tiktok, are clear signs of Instagram having a clear direction in adapting and remaining relevant. It’s meeting consumer expectations that have determined the ongoing popularity of this social media platform.
Instagram has continued to make changes with the most recent revealing Instagram is no longer a photo-sharing platform, taking on a more entertainment focus. After seeing the success of Youtube and Tiktok, this is the direction they are heading.
The Head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, states: "At Instagram, we’re always trying to build new features that help you get the most out of your experience. Right now we’re focused on four key areas: Creators, Video, Shopping and Messaging."
With this being said, we look forward to seeing just how the social media landscape will continue to change for the better.
Olivia Fairhurst is a business owner of Loving Local NZ and a freelance Content Manager for a range of clients, including Franklin Engineering. Olivia also has experience as a journalist at the New Zealand Herald and at multiple PR agencies. With this experience, Olivia has more than 5 years managing social media and building followings for clients so they can use social media as a tool to promote their business. Social media is a low-cost effective technique to generate more leads and build relationships with audiences. For this reason, Olivia can’t rave enough about the benefits of social media for businesses. You can find Olivia on her Instagram here.
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