Instagram is giving users globally the option to to hide their like counts, following an extensive trial in the Australian market.
In 2019, Instagram announced that it would be hiding the total number of likes and video views in Australia, as part of a trial to help encourage users to share content without the pressure of gathering likes.
Today, Facebook revealed it would be rolling out a new like count policy globally, giving users the option to find what works best for them.
“After testing in a handful of countries, including Australia, today we are launching new options to hide like counts across our global community,” said Facebook Australia & New Zealand head of policy Mia Garlick.
“This is a step forward in giving people more control over their experience on Instagram and Facebook. We learned that hiding like counts is beneficial for some, but others enjoy seeing like counts to understand what’s popular or trending. It’s important that people feel good about the time they spend on our apps, and these new controls allow them to create a more personalised and positive experience.”
Facebook says it has worked with third-party groups to better understand how it can empower users and shape a more positive experience on the platform.
