Instagram to ban likes and views from feed
JOBURG – Fears arise for influencers as Instagram sets out to hide likes and views.
Popular image sharing app, Instagram announced that it was running tests that hide the total number of likes and videos views for some users in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Ireland, Italy, Japan and New Zealand.
Initially making the announcement on 17 July, Instagram said it wanted users to focus on content shared rather than the number of likes garnered.
“You can still see your own likes by tapping on the list of people who’ve liked it, but your friends will not be able to see how many likes your post has received,” Instagram said.
Although the feature hasn’t been rolled-out globally, there have been some fears on the effects it would have on the “influencer” economy. According to a blog post by Later.com, the inability to publicly view an influencer’s likes would make it hard to gauge how engaged their community is. This would also result in brands moving away from influencer marketing towards paid advertising on the platform.
“We’re looking forward to learning more about how this change might benefit everyone’s experience on Instagram,” said Instagram.
