If you post a picture to Instagram in hopes for others to see the “like” count, Instagram may be trying to change that. App engineer Jane Manchun Wong tweeted that in the code there is an option to hide the “like” button from followers, making the likes only visible to the user who published to post.
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“We want your followers to focus on what you share, not how many likes your posts get. During this test, only the person who shared a post will see the total number of likes it gets.”
Instagram has no plans to launch the feature right away. “We’re not testing this at the moment, but exploring ways to reduce pressure on Instagram is something we’re always thinking about,” an Instagram spokesperson said to The Verge.
For some, the new change may be a positive one, making it more pleasurable to post without the pressure of the “like” count. However, for those that rely on their “like” count to boost their career and following, it could cause some frustration.