Facebook is testing on hiding like counts on posts, the news comes from app research Jane Machun Wong who revealed the news on Twitter.
The social network is apparently testing this out on in their Android App although it is apparently not live for anyone as yet.
Facebook is working to hide like counts, too!https://t.co/WnUrM12aZg
Tip @Techmeme pic.twitter.com/TdT73wT6A0
— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) September 2, 2019
Why Hide Like Counts?
This is something that Instagram, which is owned by Facebook, already does. Instagram started doing this in April in some countries. The primary reason behind hiding like counts is to improve the mental health of users. Social media platforms have been under scrutiny for their impact on mental well-being, with studies suggesting that the pressure to receive likes can lead to anxiety and depression. By hiding like counts, Facebook aims to create a more positive environment where users feel less pressured to gain approval from others.
Another reason for this change is to encourage users to focus more on the content itself rather than its popularity. When like counts are visible, users may be more inclined to engage with posts that already have a high number of likes, potentially overlooking valuable content that hasn’t yet gained traction. By removing this metric, Facebook hopes to level the playing field and promote a more authentic interaction with content.
Potential Impact on User Behavior
It is not clear as yet on whether Facebook will do something similar and test out this new feature in some countries before it rolls it out to everyone. However, the potential impact on user behavior is significant. For instance, influencers and businesses that rely on like counts as a measure of engagement might need to adapt their strategies. They may have to focus more on other metrics such as comments, shares, and overall engagement to gauge the success of their posts.
Moreover, this change could also affect advertising strategies on the platform. Advertisers often look at like counts to determine the popularity and reach of a post. With this metric hidden, they might need to rely more on other forms of data analytics to assess the effectiveness of their campaigns.
As soon as we get some more details, we will let you guys know. This move by Facebook could be a step towards a healthier social media environment, but it will be interesting to see how users and businesses adapt to this change.
Source The Next Web
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