Facebook had been testing a feature to hide Instagram and Facebook likes count in several countries since 2019, this was done due to increasing peer pressure especially in Generation Z. As often, users faced anxiety and embarrassment around their posts if they didn’t receive enough likes to be considered as “popular.” Mr. Adam Mosseri (Head of Instagram) said, ‘they introduced the feature to make “people feel good about the time they spend” on the platform’.
But there was one issue, i.e., the Influencer Community was not happy with this, because the number of likes they gain is used for online popularity for brand deals and job opportunities. So the Facebook-owned Instagram gave the right to the user, whether they want to hide it or not.
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2 Ways to Hide ‘Likes Count’ on Instagram and Facebook
Now with the feature being rollout out globally, Facebook and Instagram have decided to leave the decision with the user. If a user wants to hide the likes they can do it, or if they don’t want to, then they can just leave the like count visible just the way it was. If you want to hide it, then we are here to guide you through the process.
1. Hide Likes on Instagram
You can Hide the like count entirely from Instagram, which includes posts created by others as well as your own posts. Here’s how to do it:
- Hide Likes on Other’s Posts
- Go to your Instagram Profile
- Click on More Options
- Go to Settings
- Under Privacy, click on Posts
-
- Enable the toggle to Hide Likes and View Counts
- Hide Likes on Your Posts
- Hide Likes on New Posts
- Create a New Post
- On this screen, click on Advanced Settings
- Enable the toggle to Hide Likes and View Counts
- Hide Likes on Old Posts
- Go to an Old Post from your Profile
- Click on more options
- Tap on Hide Like Count
- Hide Likes on New Posts
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2. Hide Likes and Reactions on Facebook
Just like Instagram, Facebook is also allowing the users to “Hide likes and reactions” if they want. This means a user can turn off reactions for posts created by others, as well as their own posts. Here’s how to do it:
- Click on More Options
- Go to Settings and Privacy
- Click on Settings
- Under News Feed Settings, go to Reaction and Counts
- Enable both these toggles
Image Credits: Facebook
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Note: The option to hide reaction is coming to Facebook in few weeks, as per the statement issued by Facebook.
So these are the two ways you can hide likes and reactions on Facebook and Instagram. Do let us know which way you like to use Facebook and Instagram, with like count or without?
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