Terror of influencers: Instagram was starting to hide the "I love"

Instagram announced that as of today, the "likes" of its platforms would hide in seven major countries, with the aim of reducing the pressure and improving the mental health of its users.

This new test, applied in Australia, Brazil, Canada (where it has been running since last May), Ireland, Italy, Japan and New Zealand, means that Instagram users, owned by giant Facebook , will no longer be able to see the number of "I like" that they receive in their messages.

In order for users to see how many mentions they have generated, they will need to click on the list of people that will only be available to the author, depending on the channel. TN.

"We want your friends to focus on the photos and videos that they share, not on the number of" I like "that they receive," justified the social network in a statement. .

In this sense, Mia Garlick, Facebook director in Australia and New Zealand, said: "We want Instagram to be a place of personal expression where people feel comfortable" and "we hopefully this decision will put some pressure on the number of "I love" "they will be received, so that people can focus on sharing what they want".

Some studies suggest that Instagram may negatively affect its users. In 2017, a report from the Royal Society of Public Health in the United Kingdom ranked Instagram among the worst social networks for youth mental health.