Facebook follows Instagram and SCRAPS like counts due to mental health concerns stemming from ‘social pressure’
Facebook has followed Instagram by scrapping its like count due to mental health concerns.
Australia is the first country to trial the changes, which will begin on Friday.
The social media giant has made the change after concern was raised from experts.
Facebook has followed Instagram by scrapping its like count due to mental health concerns
‘The driver for this has been feedback from well-being researchers and from mental health experts who are concerned about the sort of social pressure that happens when you can how many likes or interactions another person gets compared to your own,’ Facebook Australia policy director Mia Garlick told 7news.
It comes months after Instagram began hiding ‘likes’ in Australia and Canada on a trial basis and if successful it will be expanding the changes worldwide.
Instagram removed its like count to take the pressure off users and create a positive environment.
Similar to how Instragram’s likes work, users will still be able to see how many likes a post receives but others will not.
Instagram’s decision to hide likes sparked controversy back in July, with a number of influencers expressing outrage over the changes.
Tammy Hembrow, who boasts almost 10 million followers, expressed her concerns about the move back in June, when it was first announced.
‘What happens when Instagram gets rid of the likes?’ asked a photographer as she left a nightclub in Los Angeles.
‘Then we’ll delete Instagram from my life!’ Tammy replied, before climbing into a taxi and saying: ‘F**k Instagram!’
Married At First Sight’s Nasser Sultan was furious with Instagram.
The personal trainer, who has 36,000 followers, was worried that people won’t know how ‘famous’ he is if his likes are no longer visible.
Instagrammer Mikaela Testa, who has fewer than 50,000 followers, went on an extraordinary tearful rant slamming Instagram’s ‘like’ ban as causing ‘real damage out here’
‘It is outrageous that I don’t look like a celebrity now and people can’t see how popular I am with my posts,’ he raged.
Nasser is considered a ‘micro-influencer’ in the industry and mainly uses his account to secure free meals at casual restaurants.
Instagrammer Mikaela Testa, who has fewer than 50,000 followers, went on an extraordinary tearful rant slamming Instagram’s ‘like’ ban as causing ‘real damage out here’
‘If you think this is OK you can f*** off, it’s actually a sad day for those who have Instagram as a job,’ she said in a Facebook post.
The 19-year-old’s message was met with little sympathy, and many users began mocking her for her outburst.
More to come