Have you heard all this talk about hiding likes on Instagram? There’s a lot of talk online at the moment about Instagram hiding likes on posts. How do you feel about this? Are you infuriated? Are you secretly pleased? Are you a bit confused?! Well, in this Small & Supercharged Podcast episode, I chat about my views on hiding likes on Instagram. And as I say on the podcast, this is just my own view based on what I’ve read and learnt… and obviously added my own spin on it too.
Let’s talk about hiding likes on Instagram…
I decided to record this podcast as a result of the Instagram TV video I did all about it. I did it because I HATE all this social media scaremongering. Whenever any social media platform releases an update it drives me MAD when I see so many people whining and moaning about it. Actually, what I hate even more is when people use these updates to scare people into things. And that’s why I decided to record the podcast.
In this episode, I talk all about hiding likes on Instagram. I discuss why likes shouldn’t be the only measurable on Instagram and how REAL engagement in terms of comments (that are relevant) and DMs are much more valuable. And I also talk about how Instagram removing the likes count (potentially, if they decide to, obviously!) could have big and positive impacts on people’s engagement, content, and their feeling of self worth when this is linked to popularity on the social media platforms we use each day?
So hiding likes is all good?
Now, of course, these changes don’t come without their downsides. Or not downsides as such, more adjustments. If people appreciate that the number of likes is only seen by them and no one else, the chances are that people will be looking at how to foster more visible engagement, such as comments.
There are, potentially, a lot more positives than negatives about hiding likes on Instagram. Real, genuine community is definitely one. Please don’t fear these changes. If and when Instagram decide to roll this out, there is nothing you can do about it. All you can do is look at what the people behind the platform are trying to achieve, think about why, adapt, go with it, and crack on. Or you can leave the platform.
Is there anything else?
In this episode, I also have a little chat about why, when social media platforms make these changes, it should remind us all of the importance of our own website hubs. I am a HUGE fan of social media (well, obviously, I talk about it a lot and do a lot of work on it!), but I also know why it’s so so important to have your own owned space on the internet too. Because that should be yours. It won’t just change overnight (well, it really shouldn’t!), you can customise it however you like, the features won’t change without your say so… and if you have a newsletter set up on your website or connected to your site too, you can reach out to those people whenever you like without having to worry about the algorithm or the visibility your content is receiving.
So, there you go, my take on hiding likes on Instagram – why it’s not something to fear – how you can embrace these changes… and how it might encourage better, genuine connections…
