(Reuters) – Instagram is launching a small global test on Wednesday where users can choose whether to hide as accounts in their own posts or other people’s posts, a Facebook spokeswoman said.
The photo-sharing site, owned by Facebook Inc., said the latter test came after seeing mixed responses to its experiments in which it removed the Likes, which are commonly used as a measure of popularity.
“In 2019, we started hiding as counts so that a small group of people would understand if the pressure to post on Instagram decreases,” the spokeswoman said in a statement. “Some people found this beneficial, but some still wanted to see it as a count to be able to keep track of what’s popular.”
Facebook is also exploring a similar experience that will unfold in the coming weeks, he said, in response to users asking for more controls on how they interact with the platform’s content. Facebook has previously tried to hide messages in other posts in Australia.
Last month, Instagram accidentally hid likes from a large number of users in what was supposed to be a small test, which sparked strong reactions. Some users saw it as an important step for users ’mental health, while others saw it as catastrophic for creators who partner with brands. “Likes” are expressed by pressing a heart-shaped icon on a user’s post.
Instagram test users will still be able to see their own accounts in private. The test will involve a small percentage of global users, but the company declined to say how many.
Reports by Elizabeth Culliford; Edited by Bernadette Baum