Soo – Instagram is set to begin hiding likes here in the US this week and people seem to have mixed feelings about it. I however, do not — in fact, I think this has taken too long to implement!
WE KNOW THESE METRICS ARE DETRIMENTAL TO MENTAL HEALTH
and I’m not just talking developing minds and younger, more vulnerable users. I’m a grown woman and they are detrimental to MY health. I’ve had to work hard to detach myself from the numbers (while still doing my part to engage with my audience) and make content that has good reach.
This is the unavoidable part of being an “influencer” that I’ve always grappled with. With an Instagram account, (new) Twitter account, website, podcast and YouTube, following are numbers that are constantly being measured:
Followers
Likes
Comments
Story views
Reach
Saves
Shares
Visitors
Subscribers
Ratings
Reviews
And I’m sure there are some missing. It’s a popularity contest and who likes THOSE? I can’t IMAGINE being a younger more impressionable person, having all of these platforms and comparing myself to others.
OK BACK TO HIDING LIKES
What are the implications? Some say that it will affect the influencer industry but that is not the case, as brands will still be able to measure performance. But hopefully people will feel free to create more content authentic and unique to them without worrying about numbers. Yes, we will still be able to see how many likes our own posts receive— but the only reason we care anyway is because other people see them, right?
INSTAGRAM IS GETTING A LITTLE BORING
I think the pressure to create content that performs well vs. content that is interesting has caused people to be safe (myself included!) and post things that are popular or that the algorithm favors. Hopefully we’ll start seeing more individuality!
AT THE END OF THE DAY
Social media is part of our lives unless we choose not to partake. We have the power to choose what we see, but it’s inevitable that at some point we’re going to compare ourselves to others and feel less than. Seeing how many people like our photos only perpetuates this and feels unnecessary. I say GOOD RIDDANCE likes! Nobody needs you anyway.
How do you feel about this development? Has this already been implemented where you live? Sound off below!