Instagram and Facebook Will Let ALL Users Hide Like Counts On Posts

In a move designed to "give people control over their experience," Facebook and Instagram are both officially letting users decide whether the "Like" count on a post will be displayed visually or hidden. On Instagram the feature is already live, and Facebook will launch it shortly. Part of the reason for this was the research finding that the like count was often causing social anxiety among social media users. I loved this announcement and the rationale behind it.

While I personally could see myself switching back and forth between using this feature and not, it is exactly the kind of idea that could make a meaningful impact in reducing cyberbullying and helping the mental wellbeing and self confidence of young people overall, two things that most social media platforms have historically done very poorly. Better late than never, I suppose.