Nov 8, 2019 - Technology

Instagram CEO plans to test hiding "likes" in app next week

Orion Rummler

Instagram and Threads. Photo: Chesnot/Getty Images

Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri said the social media company plans to test hiding "likes" within the app for some U.S. users starting next week, Wired reports.

What he's saying: Mosseri made the announcement Friday at WIRED25 while discussing "why it’s important for social media platforms to take responsibility for the safety and well-being of the people who frequent them," per Wired.

Mosseri has described previous "like"-less tests as an effort to create a “less pressurized environment."

The big picture: Facebook tested a similar feature in Australia, and Twitter has played with concealing likes and retweets in a limited prototype version of its new mobile app "twttr." Instagram has already tested camouflaging its likes in Japan, Brazil, New Zealand, Ireland, Italy and Australia.

Snapchat's Evan Spiegel criticized the "likes" system on social media for spurring fake news in a 2017 Axios op-ed.
Concerns over the negative impact of broad social media use have increased in recent years with rising reports of teen suicide, depression and cyberbullying.

Go deeper: New fake-news worry for Instagram

Add Axios on Google

Instagram CEO plans to test hiding "likes" in app next week

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