For many, social media is a competition to see who can get the most likes, comments, followers, etc. Before we lived in a world where everyone wanted to be an influencer, it was the content that mattered. It did not matter who posted that cool picture, it just mattered that the picture was nice. There have been several studies that have had some relationship between the desire for likes on social media and mental illnesses (such as social anxiety disorder, depression, body dysmorphia, etc).
Earlier this week, Instagram shared a Tweet that stated that in a few select countries they were testing removing the total number of likes and views for some people. A following tweet from Instagram said, "We want your friends to focus on the photos and videos you share, not how many likes they get. 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". This may see daunting to several people because they believe the main aspects of the platform is for likes, not for the actual content.
Personally, I believe this is an amazing shift that Instagram is making, as well as a bold move. Instagram would be the first of the big platforms to remove like counts, and could receive backlash from users. However, if it proves beneficial the other big platforms could follow and we could go back to a time before like and view counts. I've deleted pictures before off of my Instagram before because they received too few likes, but now I post what I want simply to share content with the world. It is my belief that the content is what matters, not the popularity of the post.
This shift of focus from likes to content is a big step in the right direction. With children being bullied online and pressures being created from social media, this changing dynamic is so important. It is Instagram's hope that this will better the user experience. They hope to make their platform truly social, and not a competition.
Lastly, today's society is filled with and ruled by influencers. Everyone hopes to be an influencer and make a ton of money. This change that Instagram is testing may set influencers back. They will truly have to put out great content for viewers and followers. They will not be able to simply post anything and expect a following, and it will become more difficult for new influencers to rise to stardom.
What are you thoughts on Instagram doing this? Do you think other social platforms should follow Instagram's lead? Do you believe this shift will be beneficial?
