Instagram is testing to hide the number of likes on each user's post globally. Indonesia also became one of the countries that received this trial. A number of Instagram users in Indonesia were randomly assigned to this trial. Previously, they received a pop-up notification with the statement "Testing a Change to How You See Likes".
The appearance is as stated on @joyofodu https://www.instagram.com/joyofodu Instagram account. At the top of Instagram home there’s a notification reads "Testing a Change to How You See Likes". After that, you won't be able to see the number of likes on other users' posts.
This change will be applied by default and can’t be set by user. The number of likes is actually not really lost, only hidden and can’t be seen by other users. Yes, this feature is private because only you can know the number is.
Previously, this trial was implemented in eight countries, including United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Ireland, Italy, Japan, and New Zealand. Mental health is the main reason Instagram made this policy. So users don’t compete with each other to get the most number of likes on Instagram, and focus on the content they upload.
"The aim is to reduce the level of anxiety (because of few likes) and reduce social comparison (because user has many likes)," explained Instagram CEO, Adam Mosseri, quoted by Tech Crunch.
Top Photo Credit: www.thenational.ae