A definite game changer to how one uses Instagram
Instagram is a lucrative social media platform: as long as you generate enough likes and followers, an Instagrammer can earn boatloads of cash with a single post. Instagram influencers who have thousands–or maybe millions–of followers can command high asking prices per post and can score big endorsements from brands.
It is no secret that some influencers spend money for likes and followers just to score endorsements. The sad reality of that is that influencers who inflate their numbers artifically have a high tendency of posting content that is inauthentic. However, that might change with Instagram’s plan of hiding like and follower counts from audiences, as spotted by Jane Wong.
Instagram is testing hiding like count from audiences,
as stated in the app: "We want your followers to focus on what you share, not how many likes your posts get" pic.twitter.com/MN7woHowVN
— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) April 18, 2019
In a statement sent to The Verge, an Instagram spokesperson said that while they are not officially testing the said feature, the are “exploring ways to reduce pressure on Instagram is something we’re always thinking about.”
We really hope that Instagram pushes through with the feature, as this will encourage users to post quality and authentic content. By introducing the said feature, this can discourage users from posting content–some being potentially harmful to young audiences–just for the sake of likes.