Instagram tests new update, to hide or unhide like counts on their posts

Instagram's currently testing a new option which would enable users to hide or unhide like counts on their posts.

That would enable users to display their total like counts for each post once again, which Instagram removed for most users back in 2019 as part of an initiative to support audience wellbeing.

Instagram hasn't revealed any specific data on the effectiveness of hidden like counts experiment, but associated research studies have shown that the initiative could be beneficial, based on smaller-scale test scenarios. 

#Instagram is working on an option to hide the like count in a post 👀 pic.twitter.com/0Bd6Mhc6YB

— Alessandro Paluzzi (@alex193a) January 14, 2021

You can hide the like count directly during post creation by going to the "Advanced settings" section 👀 pic.twitter.com/SUExGWNaDB

— Alessandro Paluzzi (@alex193a) January 14, 2021