DON'T FIX IT - Instagram is looking to change it's instagram likes feature./FLICKR
OP-ED: Instagram, If It’s Not Broke, Then Don’t Fix It
By Telvin Poledore
The popular social media platform, Instagram, known as a photo and video sharing social network announced that they will be doing a test run in hiding likes from millions of users of the application. But, not every user of the platform will see this change in the app, as Instagram is only picking a random selection of users to participate in the new feature.
According to Business Insider, Instagram representatives stated in a tweet that the reason for removing the likes is for users to focus on the photos and videos that they share instead of how many likes that they get. Also, Instagram has already been testing the new feature out in many different countries such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, Ireland, Italy, Japan, and New Zealand.
The likes feature is not completely gone from the application either, a user can still see their own likes on their account but will not be able to see how many likes another user may have received on a photo or video.
Brooklyn College senior, Janelle Bradley was not in favor of this new change to Instagram, “I feel like that’s kinda ridiculous because I should be able to see who likes it and who’s being fake,” she said.
Brooklyn College junior, Jonas Jackson said, “I feel like that’s weird, I mean personally for me, I would like to see who liked the pictures,”
The fact that Instagram is making such a major change to the platform throws everything off. This feature would take getting used to for many users if they decide to make this permanent after the test run. This is because we have become so used to having this feature in the app and it became the main staple to see who’s liking your pictures and to see who likes other user’s photos.
Instead of making this permanent for all users, this should be an option for people who prefer it. This is because removing this will not satisfy some users, but if it is made into an option, there is more free-will instead of forcing users into something that was not requested.