Instagram is most recognized as an app that keeps count of the amount of likes on a picture. Everyday, around 500 million people use Instagram at home, school, or wherever they go. It gives people a sense of validation knowing their followers are interested in their posts. A like is more than just a simple double-tap, for most people, it affects their self-esteem and mental health. According to PsychAlive.org, Instagram is known to cause negative impacts on body image, sleep, depression, loneliness, and increase the chances of bullying. Essentially, it is a platform supporting competition for likes among users.
To avoid the pressures teenagers face on Instagram, it has been decided that the likes individuals compete for, will soon disappear for some people in the U.S. this week. With this new update, when users post a new picture, their followers will not be able to see the number of likes it has received, only the user would have access to those numbers. CEO of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, stated, “The idea is to depressurize Instagram, make it less of a competition.”
This update has already been tested in seven countries including Canada, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand. For those affected by this change, a selected test group will be chosen within the U.S. Those selected will notice a banner at the top of their feed notifying them why they no longer have access to the number of likes from posts other than their own.
Celebrities such as Cardi B, Kim Kardashian West, Nicki Minaj, and more have spoken out about their thoughts on the change. With over 151 million followers on the app, Kim Kardashian West stated, “As far as mental health, I think taking the likes away and taking that aspect away from [Instagram] would be really beneficial for people. I find myself to be extremely mentally strong and I have people who are obsessed with the comments, and I find that to be really unhealthy.”
Senior, Christina Sentmanat, enjoys posting pictures on Instagram of her style, makeup, and overall life. Sentmanat commented, “I think that mental health is finally being acknowledged and so is the internet’s affect on it. This is a step in the right direction and helping others as well as assisting in preventing further mental health concerns induced through social media.”
Senior Higinio Rodriguez stated, “Implementing this new policy is beneficial to those who lack confidence especially when comparing likes to others. This policy can also be contradictory as the main goal of Instagram is to like photos and get likes on photos. Overall, I feel it’s good for Instagram, but can cause an uproar by those with influential power.”
