Twitter has been working on ways to update its platform when it comes to dropping the clout mentality surroundig how many likes and followers each user may have. It now seems like Instagram is gearing up to make the same moves since a leaked prototype design for the social media app shows a post with no like count.
A tweet made by Jane Manchun Wong, someone who likes to uncover "unreleased features, security vulnerabilities & codes for fun" shared an image she found that shows the possible future of Instagram. While sifting through the code, Jane also came across a statement by the company that read: “We want your followers to focus on what you share, not how many likes your posts get. During this test, only the person who shares a post will see the total number of likes it gets.”
As the idea goes, the only person who can see the like count would be the person who shares the post. The Verge reached out to Instagram to get a statement on the matter, but the company denied that they are rolling it out anytime soon. “We’re not testing this at the moment, but exploring ways to reduce pressure on Instagram is something we’re always thinking about," they stated.
The idea to hide likes is not news by any means. Kanye West rallied behind the plan last year sending out the following tweet: