Is Instagram Getting Rid of Likes?

 Chief of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, announced that the app will be removing likes worldwide in mid-November. However, the process of this will be slowly done as they will perform tests with certain countries first. Instagram will allow you to still see the likes you get on your own post, but not other users.  Instagram claims it is doing this because it causes controversy. Now that the likes are being removed, “people will feel less pressure.” Not all users will have their likes removed, only those included in the test. These “test” countries include Canada, Brazil, and Australia. It may test a few US users as well.

Instagram getting rid of likes has caused major backlash; many celebrities and users spoke about about how they felt. Nicki Minaj threatened to stop using and posting on Instagram, “I’m not posting on IG after this week cuz they removing the likes.” Another popular artist, Cardi B, thinks removing likes wouldn’t make Instagram less toxic. She argues that, “comments affect more than the likes.” People may feel more insecure with people constantly giving them opinions in the comments than not getting enough likes. Another female rapper named Rico Nasty thinks that removing the like feature on this app will “kill Instagam.”  

On the other hand, some people think different such as Kim Kardashian. She says “As far as mental health, I mean it’s something that taking the likes away and taking that aspect away from it would be really beneficial for people.”  An actress named Tracee Ellis Ross says likes on Instagram has adverse effects, “It creates a culture that isn’t helpful for well-being and isn’t fruitful for creative energy.”

It is not yet known whether Instagram will be hiding likes permanently.

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