NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — In order to create a healthier online environment, Instagram is making a major move. They are testing out hiding “likes.” But that move is producing some mixed reactions.
"We don't want instagram to be such a competition whereas people can spend their energy connecting with the people they love," said Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram.
After three years of creating her account, Nashville based influencer Colleen Werner has nearly 20 thousand followers and hundreds on likes on her account. That viewership has led to a number of collaborations with brands. As a mental health advocate, Werner understands how this can help with taking way the pressure people feel to be popular, but argues that the change can affect businesses negatively. That's because it would take away the ability to show how their business is being received by the community.
"It's one of the easiest way to see if an audiences resonated with the content," said Werner. She adds that hiding "likes" this could also harm Instagram influencers, users who profit off of having a huge fanbase.
Werner says it's up to users to make social media a safe space. "Just making sure you're using social media (in a way that is) beneficial for health instead of cycle of comparison," said Werner.
The testing of "hiding the likes" is happening this week here in the U-S but has already been tested in seven other countries.
