How to Hide Like and View Counts on Instagram Posts

[MacRumors]

Instagram has added new options on the platform that allow users to hide the number of like and view counts of other people's posts, as well as the same counts on their own posts.

The new options have been introduced to "depressurize people's experience" on the platform, the Facebook-owned social media company said. Instagram has been testing out the options in several countries since 2019, but from Wednesday it is rolling them out globally.

Instagram said its testing had found that removing likes had little impact on users' behavior and wellbeing, despite use of the platform being linked to anxiety and poor mental health. The following steps outline where you can find the new options in the Instagram mobile app.

How to Hide Like and View Counts on New Posts

By enabling this feature, you will see the username of a follower who has liked your post, "and others," instead of a number indicating the number of likes.

1. Start a new Instagram post as usual until you get to the last menu before sharing.
2. Tap Advanced Settings at the bottom of the menu.
3. Toggle on the switch next to Hide Like and View Counts.
4. Return to the previous menu, then tap Share to post.
   
   

Note that even if a user has Like Counts enabled, they will not be able to see the number of likes on accounts or posts that have hidden them.

How to Hide Like Counts on Your Existing Posts

1. Find one of your own shared posts.
2. Tap the ellipsis icon (three dots) in the top-right corner of the post.
3. Select Hide Like Count from the pop-up menu.
   
   

How to Hide Like and View Counts on Other Users' Posts

1. Tap your profile picture, then tap the menu button (the three-lined icon) in the top-right corner of the interface.
2. Tap Settings in the pop-up card.
3. Select the new Posts section.
   Toggle on the switch next to Hide Like and View Counts.
   
   

In the new Posts menu, you'll notice some additional radio buttons that let you opt to "Allow Tags From" Everyone, People You Follow, and No One. Under "Tagged Posts" you can also enable or disable the option to Manually Approve Tags.

Article Link: How to Hide Like and View Counts on Instagram Posts

 

[Blackstick]

I thought the entire point of Insta was the tiny dopamine hit from lots of people loving your dog or sunset photo with the perfect hashtags 🙄.

 

[dannyyankou]

The new options have been introduced to "depressurize people's experience" on the platform, the Facebook-owned social media company said.

A great way to do that is to deactivate your Instagram and Facebook account

 

[LiE_]

Step 1: long press app on Home Screen to enter jiggle mode.

Step 2: delete app

Now you have depressurised yourself from Instagram.

 

[VespiYT]

I dont have this yet

 

[steevn]

These are nice additions and options available. I’m sure most people will say to delete these apps, but the simple fact is that just isn’t going to happen for most and isn’t even solving anything really.

I don’t understand people’s unwillingness to learn and adapt to new things and the only “cure” is to delete and pretend it doesn’t exist at all. This applies to much more than just apps.

 

[benshive]

A great way to do that is to deactivate your Instagram and Facebook account

A great decision for your mental health too I've found. At least for me it was.

 

[GeoStructural]

These are nice additions and options available. I’m sure most people will say to delete these apps, but the simple fact is that just isn’t going to happen for most and isn’t even solving anything really.

I don’t understand people’s unwillingness to learn and adapt to new things and the only “cure” is to delete and pretend it doesn’t exist at all. This applies to much more than just apps.

Man really good points. Many people will continue using social media, period. Some for business, quick news briefing and others for fun. And those are all valid choices.

And regarding the option I am glad it exists, it won’t have a personal impact on me but I have young people in my family that seem to be concerned about how much their content is liked or not, so I welcome it.

 

[J___o___h___n]

Yikes, they have made that "advanced settings" link tiny!

 

[dumiku]

I thought the entire point of Insta was the tiny dopamine hit from lots of people loving your dog or sunset photo with the perfect hashtags 🙄.

This is mostly targeted at those who feel depressed when their posts don't have a lot of likes, those with thousands/millions will never feel the need to disabled it.

 

[now i see it]

This is what I do on MR

 

[SnakeEater1993]

That must be the first good thing they added on Instagram since dark mode....

 

[alexandr]

but there isn't a way to disable this for future posts altogether?

 

[edk99]

Sounds like a snowflake feature. Much better to just delete the app.

 

[steevn]

Sounds like a snowflake feature. Much better to just delete the app.

Isn’t deleting the app the ultimate snowflake move though?

 

[blairh]

Long overdue to say the least. Still annoying you have to disable likes for each individual post you post. Wish it had a universal toggle like it does for the likes of others.

 

[PlainviewX]

Yeah, not seeing any of this anywhere.

 

[DinkThifferent]

That must be the first good thing they added on Instagram since dark mode....

I'm surprised they had time for this

 

[minik]

I used this feature the other day.

 

[sevoneone]

These are nice additions and options available. I’m sure most people will say to delete these apps, but the simple fact is that just isn’t going to happen for most and isn’t even solving anything really.

I don’t understand people’s unwillingness to learn and adapt to new things and the only “cure” is to delete and pretend it doesn’t exist at all. This applies to much more than just apps.

Generally I agree, but study after study is finding these platforms is contributing to increases in mental health issues. Especially in youth an especially FB and IG. This has little to do with the concept of the Apps and how they work on the surface, it is the algorithms that have been purposefully developed to make the products as addictive as possible to maximize ad revenue and collect data on people. Time and time again Facebook has shown it doesn't care enough that their product has been proven to cause people harm in order to make the changes that would correct the problem.They have even recently been promoting that they want to develop a version of their Instagram specifically for kids. The reaction from 95+% of society was immediate cringe and backlash, and it should be a clear indicator that Facebook and its leadership are way out of touch with the wider effects of their products. When people don't like the ethics and practices of a company, generally they stop using their products and services.

Isn’t deleting the app the ultimate snowflake move though?

Snowflakes demand "safe spaces" in places they know are likely hostile to them. The snowflake move here is turning on the ability to hide the Likes/Comments while continuing to frequent the platform. Deleting/Abstaining from the thing causing you harm is the more reasonable choice here.

 

[benshive]

Sounds like a snowflake feature. Much better to just delete the app.

Isn’t deleting the app the ultimate snowflake move though?

If we're playing this game, I think the real "snowflake" move would be to make a big deal about personal decisions others make about how they interact with a social media service

 

[kb2755]

They've had like/view counts turned off in Canada for quite a while now. Never liked that change or that we had no control over that setting. Happy to turn this off and get the counts back.

 

[LFC2020]

People still using this garbage app owned by a trash company and scumbag owner.🤦‍♂️

 

[Miha_v]

Interesting, I thought I saw some posts recently where I couldn't see number of likes.

BTW: if social media is causing you problems, you're using it wrong Following great number of good artists & photographers, fun & animal accounts makes browsing IG a joyful and relaxing short daily treat. Not to mention, a great source of inspiration if you're working in a creative field.

 

[MICHAELSD]

As somebody who feels the pressure of not getting enough likes on Instagram and even partially derives self-worth from it as does this generation of followers (I have a song about it on my upcoming Social Media EP), this is a welcome feature that I just re-downloaded Instagram to enable.

Even if I was consistently getting thousands of likes on my posts I would still enable this, and I’d suggest for other users to as well if they’ve ever felt anxiety from these apps. I wouldn’t mind if Facebook were to offer this option as well.