Instagram Hides Like Counts In Leaked Design Prototype (techcrunch.com) 35
Instagram's Android code is hiding a design change that hides the number of likes your posts get. "During this test, only the person who shares a post will see the total number of likes it gets," the company says. TechCrunch reports on the seemingly small design change test and the massive potential impact it'll have on users' well-being: Hiding Like counts could reduce herd mentality, where people just Like what's already got tons of Likes. It could reduce the sense of competition on Instagram, since users won't compare their own counts with those of more popular friends or superstar creators. And it could encourage creators to post what feels most authentic rather than trying to rack up Likes for everyone to see.
You can see [in a leaked screenshot] on the left that the Instagram feed post lacks a Like count, but still shows a few faces and a name of other people who've Liked it. Users are alerted that only they will see their post's Like counts, and anyone else won't. Many users delete posts that don't immediately get "enough" Likes or post to their fake "Finstagram" accounts if they don't think they'll be proud of the hearts they collect. Hiding Like counts might get users posting more because they'll be less self-conscious. It appears there's no plan to hide follower counts on user profiles, which are the true measure of popularity, but also serve a purpose of distinguishing great content creators and assessing their worth to marketers. Hiding Likes could just put more of a spotlight on follower and comment counts. And even if users don't see Like counts, they still massively impact the feed's ranking algorithm, so creators will still have to battle for them to be seen.
You can see [in a leaked screenshot] on the left that the Instagram feed post lacks a Like count, but still shows a few faces and a name of other people who've Liked it. Users are alerted that only they will see their post's Like counts, and anyone else won't. Many users delete posts that don't immediately get "enough" Likes or post to their fake "Finstagram" accounts if they don't think they'll be proud of the hearts they collect. Hiding Like counts might get users posting more because they'll be less self-conscious. It appears there's no plan to hide follower counts on user profiles, which are the true measure of popularity, but also serve a purpose of distinguishing great content creators and assessing their worth to marketers. Hiding Likes could just put more of a spotlight on follower and comment counts. And even if users don't see Like counts, they still massively impact the feed's ranking algorithm, so creators will still have to battle for them to be seen.
Re: (Score:1)
>information
Mental constructs more than knowledge of reality.
That's the generous response, referring to abstract imaginaries. I wasn't sure you deserved more than snide condescension, given the subject.
No shit (Score:4, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
Nuke the "like" and "follower" counts from the orbit. It's the only way to be sure.
FTFY.
Re: No shit (Score:2)
I think allowing both positive- and negative-scoring feedback (e.g., like/dislike) would also help a lot.
Could be a big culture shock (Score:2)
I read somewhere on Twitter what I thought was a really good point - would hiding the like counts be the end of influencers?
However there would still be comments visible, and probably by the number of comments in response you'd get an idea lots of people had seen/liked something (no difference to an influencer). Also I assume recommendation engines would still tend to percolate up people with a lot of likes...
The real question is, would they hide follower counts - that would probably be more of a blow.
Not the Intended Effect (Score:4, Interesting)
Removing interactivity is a sure way to get people to interact less.
...and BOOM!!! (Score:2)
You're not a model anymore.
Almost as good (Score:2)
This sounds like almost as good an idea as adding a "dislike" feature. It always seems that the social media where people are the most civil and "nice" are the ones that allow both positive- and negative-scoring feedback (upvote/downvote, thumb-up/thumb-down, like/dislike, etc.)
Screenshots (Score:2)
This will change very little. All it will do is introduce a new class of posts.
1) Post the same attention getting stuff you do today
2) Screenshot your likes
3) Post the screenshot of your likes
This change gives you a reason to post your pics multiple times, which all of the "models" will love.
(screenshots & reposts are already common in the stories section up top)
Thanks Instagram.
Oh for fuck's sake (Score:2)
"...and the massive potential impact it'll have on users' well-being"
If my "well-being" ever depends on Instagram 'likes', please put a bullet in my head.