4 Dubai-Based Instagram Influencers React To Instagram Hiding Likes

S1, DJ Bliss, Peter Barron and Naomi D’Souza weigh in on the news

Instagram has announced its attempt to make their photo sharing platform a bully-free zone, which could mean that the app will be removing the ability to see how many likes your image is receiving. The test has so far been rolled out across Australia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Brazil, Canada and New Zealand, but is yet to make its way to the UAE. 

We’re currently running a test that hides the total number of likes and video views for some people in the following countries:

Australia
Brazil
Canada
Ireland
Italy
Japan
New Zealand pic.twitter.com/2OdzpIUBka

— Instagram (@instagram) July 17, 2019

“We want your friends to focus on the photos and videos you share, not how many likes they get,” Instagram announced. “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.”

Naturally, the news has been met with an onslaught of responses – mostly from influencers, who utilise the platform to make money. Whilst many have praised the platform for allowing users to focus on image-led content rather than seeking validation through enagement, those who use Instagram professionally have expressed how this new feature might affect their careers. 

View this post on Instagram

From the head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri (@mosseri): “We know bullying is a challenge many face, particularly young people. We are committed to leading the industry in the fight against online bullying, and we are rethinking the whole experience of Instagram to meet that commitment. We can do more to prevent bullying from happening on Instagram, and we can do more to empower the targets of bullying to stand up for themselves. Today we’re announcing one new feature in both areas. Encouraging Positive Interactions In the last few days, we started rolling out a new feature powered by AI that notifies people when their comment may be considered offensive before it’s posted. This intervention gives people a chance to reflect and undo their comment and prevents the recipient from receiving the harmful comment notification. Protecting Your Account From Unwanted Interactions With Restrict We wanted to create a feature that allows people to control their Instagram experience, without notifying someone who may be targeting them. Soon, we will begin testing a new way to protect your account from unwanted interactions called Restrict. It’s our responsibility to create a safe environment on Instagram. This has been an important priority for us for some time, and we are continuing to invest in better understanding and tackling this problem.” To learn more about these new updates, click the link in our bio. Artwork by @heysp

A post shared by Instagram (@instagram) on Jul 8, 2019 at 11:31am PDT

Ahead, four Dubai-based Instagram influencers sharing their two scents on Instagram hiding likes… 

“Instagram is a platform where you share memories and pictures. It’s really not about likes.” – S1, singer. 

“People would post more because then you wouldn’t have to worry about how many likes each picture gets.” – DJ Bliss, music producer. 

“Instagram would be a healthier platform for individuals, as we wouldn’t be as self-absorbed or obsessed with the number of likes our posts rack up.” – Naomi D’Souza, food blogger. 

“I think it would allow people with a smaller audience to excel on Instagram.” – Peter Barron, fitness coach.

ITP Live’s Rouhana and Laura also weigh in on the news. 

Are you for or against Instagram hiding likes? Drop us a comment on Facebook and join the conversation. 

Listen to BAZAAR discuss how the Kardashians are shaping the way we scroll and social media pressures