With over 1 billion monthly active users, Instagram has become one of the most popular social media platforms globally. The photo and video sharing app allows you to post content and interact with others through likes, comments, and shares.
But the constant pressure to gain more engagement can take a toll on mental health and self-esteem for some users. This is especially true for teens and young adults who tend to compare themselves to others on social media.
In response, Instagram introduced the option to hide public like counts on posts in 2021. This gives users more control over their experience on the platform.
As a data analyst and technology enthusiast, I wanted to provide an in-depth guide on how to hide Instagram likes. In this article, we‘ll cover:
- The impact of Instagram likes on mental health
- Who can benefit from hiding likes
- Step-by-step instructions to hide likes
- Pros and cons of hiding Instagram likes
- Expert tips and recommendations
Let‘s get right into it!
The Impact of Instagram Likes on Mental Health
Over the last decade, multiple studies have demonstrated the effects of social media usage on mental health, especially in younger demographics.
A 2020 study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health found that teens who spent more than 3 hours a day on social media were at higher risk of depression and suicidal ideation. Heavy social media use was linked to poor sleep quality, low self-esteem, and body image issues.
The constant pressure to garner likes and validation on apps like Instagram takes a major toll on users‘ self-worth. A 2019 study by the Royal Society for Public Health ranked Instagram as having the most negative impact on young people‘s mental health and wellbeing out of all major social media platforms.
Specifically, Instagram increased anxiety, depression, loneliness, bullying and body image worries, as teens felt pressured to present an unrealistic and filtered version of their lives.
Public like counts contribute hugely to these issues around self-esteem and validation. For this reason, hiding likes can be beneficial for many users.
Who Can Benefit From Hiding Instagram Likes?
While Instagram likes can seem important, they reveal very little about the quality of your content or self-worth.
Hiding like counts can improve the social media experience for:
- Teens and young adults susceptible to peer pressure
- Social media influencers and creators
- Small business owners using Instagram for marketing
- Anyone facing toxicity or mental health issues related to Instagram usage
Influencers often peg their self-esteem to vanity metrics like followers and likes. Removing public like counts allows them to focus on meaningful engagement and community building.
For small businesses, hidden likes discourage robotic spam engagement from bots and farms. It facilitates genuine connections with potential customers.
Ultimately, hiding likes can benefit all users trying to foster a healthier relationship with Instagram and social media.
Step-By-Step Guide to Hide Likes on Instagram
If you‘ve decided to hide likes on your Instagram posts, the process is very quick and simple:
Hide Likes on All Your Posts
- Open the Instagram app and go to your profile
- Tap on the 3-line menu button in the top right
- Go to ‘Settings‘ in the menu
- Select the ‘Privacy‘ option
- Under ‘Interactions‘, tap on ‘Posts‘
- Toggle on the switch next to ‘Hide Like and View Counts‘
This will immediately remove like and view counts from all your existing and future posts. The change applies only to your profile – you can still see likes on posts from other people you follow.
Hide Likes For a Single Post
To hide likes for just one post instead of your entire profile, do this:
- Go to the specific post on your profile
- Tap on the 3-dot menu button on the top right corner
- Select ‘Hide Like Count‘
Just that individual post will have its like count removed. Your broader account setting remains unchanged.
Who Can Still See Your Likes?
While likes are hidden from your end, some visibility remains for others:
- You won‘t see like counts on your posts
- Followers won‘t see counts when viewing your profile
- Non-followers also won‘t see counts
- People who like/comment can see the total like number but not who liked
- On tagged posts, likes remain visible to everyone
So in summary, your exact like counts are now completely private to you. Others have limited visibility based on their engagement with your posts.
Pros and Cons of Hiding Likes on Instagram
Let‘s weigh some potential advantages and disadvantages of hiding likes on Instagram:
Pros
- Reduces social media pressure and toxicity
- Lessens depression/anxiety around validation
- Improves self-esteem and mental health
- Allows focus on meaningful interactions
- Removes inauthentic engagement from bots/farms
- Encourages genuine content creation
Cons
- Reduces metric to evaluate top-performing content
- Harder to assess reach and engagement
- Influencers have one less measure for rates
- Businesses can‘t flaunt vanity metrics publically
- Doesn‘t completely block others from seeing counts
Overall, while some user data is sacrificed, the mental health benefits seem to outweigh the cons for most people.
Expert Tips and Recommendations
As a tech expert and data analyst, here are my top recommendations around hiding Instagram likes:
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Use it as part of a larger social media detox. Don‘t rely on just one feature. Take breaks, unfollow accounts that trigger comparison, and limit daily usage.
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Give it a test run first. Try hiding likes for a month and track how it affects your mindset and content strategy.
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Utilize Instagram‘s analytics tools. Creators and businesses can still view detailed metrics even without public like counts.
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Remember that your value isn‘t defined by likes. Focus on meaningful connections both online and offline.
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Set screen time limits. Reduce endlessly scrolling irrespective of whether you hide likes. Monitor your weekly usage.
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Foster your interests and hobbies. Spend time on activities unrelated to social media that boost your self-esteem.
Hiding likes on Instagram can be a useful step for many users. But it‘s most effective when combined with broader social media wellness practices. Test it out as part of a more mindful approach to technology usage.
I hope this comprehensive guide gives you clarity on how to hide Instagram likes and the pros and cons of doing so. Feel free to share any other tips or experiences in the comments!
