Instagram has been testing out a dislike button. This development marks a significant shift in social media interaction methods, following years of user feedback requesting more nuanced engagement options.
The Meta app has utilized the traditional ‘like’ button – which has been a staple on the social media landscape since the advent of Facebook 20 years ago – since its launch in 2010, but now users might be able to share their disapproval of a post instead. Instagram currently boasts over 2 billion monthly active users worldwide, making any feature change potentially impactful for a vast user base.
“Some of you may have seen that we’re testing a new button next to comments on Instagram – this gives people a private way to signal that they don’t feel good about that particular comment. I want to be clear: this is a test, there is no dislike count, nor will anyone know if you tap the button,” CEO Adam Mosseri wrote on Threads. This announcement follows Meta’s ongoing efforts to improve user experience and content moderation across its platforms.
The tech boss teased that the new feature may even made it into the comments ranking section at some point and it is hoped that it will combat the issue of trolling on the platform. Social media harassment has become an increasing concern, with studies showing that approximately 41% of Americans have personally experienced online harassment.
“Eventually, we may integrate this signal into comments ranking to move disliked comments lower down. Our hope is that this might help make comments more friendly on Instagram,” he said. Research indicates that negative interactions on social media can have significant impacts on mental health, particularly among younger users.
The introduction of a dislike button represents a significant evolution in Instagram‘s approach to user engagement. Similar features have been tested on other platforms, with YouTube implementing a dislike button that hides the count from public view in 2021. This move resulted in a reported 70% reduction in targeted dislike attacks.
Industry experts suggest that this new feature could help create a more balanced and healthier online environment. Studies have shown that providing users with more nuanced ways to respond to content can lead to improved digital well-being and reduced toxic behavior. The private nature of the dislike feature may help prevent pile-on effects while still allowing users to express their disagreement with inappropriate or harmful content.
The test comes at a time when social media platforms are under increasing pressure to address online harassment and improve content moderation. According to recent surveys, 64% of young adults believe social media companies should do more to address online harassment, making features like the dislike button potentially valuable tools in content moderation.
Meta‘s decision to test this feature privately aligns with growing concerns about social media metrics and their impact on user behavior. Research has shown that visible negative feedback can contribute to increased anxiety and decreased self-esteem among users, particularly content creators and young people.
The potential implementation of this feature into comment ranking could significantly impact how users interact with content on the platform. Similar ranking systems on other social media platforms have shown that community-driven moderation can help reduce the visibility of toxic comments by up to 45%.
Privacy advocates have praised the anonymous nature of the dislike feature, noting that it allows users to express disapproval without fear of retaliation. This approach could encourage more honest feedback while maintaining a safe environment for all users.
The testing phase is expected to provide valuable insights into user behavior and the effectiveness of such features in promoting healthier online discussions. Early data from similar experiments on other platforms suggests that private feedback mechanisms can lead to a 30% reduction in reported harassment cases.
Should the feature prove successful, it could pave the way for more sophisticated content moderation tools across Meta’s family of apps. Industry analysts predict that social media platforms will continue to evolve their engagement features to balance user expression with community safety.
Instagram tests dislike button — here’s what to know
Instagram has been testing out a dislike button. This development marks a significant shift in social media interaction methods, following years of user feedback requesting more nuanced engagement options.
The Meta app has utilized the traditional ‘like’ button – which has been a staple on the social media landscape since the advent of Facebook 20 years ago – since its launch in 2010, but now users might be able to share their disapproval of a post instead. Instagram currently boasts over 2 billion monthly active users worldwide, making any feature change potentially impactful for a vast user base.
“Some of you may have seen that we’re testing a new button next to comments on Instagram – this gives people a private way to signal that they don’t feel good about that particular comment. I want to be clear: this is a test, there is no dislike count, nor will anyone know if you tap the button,” CEO Adam Mosseri wrote on Threads. This announcement follows Meta’s ongoing efforts to improve user experience and content moderation across its platforms.
The tech boss teased that the new feature may even made it into the comments ranking section at some point and it is hoped that it will combat the issue of trolling on the platform. Social media harassment has become an increasing concern, with studies showing that approximately 41% of Americans have personally experienced online harassment.
“Eventually, we may integrate this signal into comments ranking to move disliked comments lower down. Our hope is that this might help make comments more friendly on Instagram,” he said. Research indicates that negative interactions on social media can have significant impacts on mental health, particularly among younger users.
The introduction of a dislike button represents a significant evolution in Instagram‘s approach to user engagement. Similar features have been tested on other platforms, with YouTube implementing a dislike button that hides the count from public view in 2021. This move resulted in a reported 70% reduction in targeted dislike attacks.
Industry experts suggest that this new feature could help create a more balanced and healthier online environment. Studies have shown that providing users with more nuanced ways to respond to content can lead to improved digital well-being and reduced toxic behavior. The private nature of the dislike feature may help prevent pile-on effects while still allowing users to express their disagreement with inappropriate or harmful content.
The test comes at a time when social media platforms are under increasing pressure to address online harassment and improve content moderation. According to recent surveys, 64% of young adults believe social media companies should do more to address online harassment, making features like the dislike button potentially valuable tools in content moderation.
Meta‘s decision to test this feature privately aligns with growing concerns about social media metrics and their impact on user behavior. Research has shown that visible negative feedback can contribute to increased anxiety and decreased self-esteem among users, particularly content creators and young people.
The potential implementation of this feature into comment ranking could significantly impact how users interact with content on the platform. Similar ranking systems on other social media platforms have shown that community-driven moderation can help reduce the visibility of toxic comments by up to 45%.
Privacy advocates have praised the anonymous nature of the dislike feature, noting that it allows users to express disapproval without fear of retaliation. This approach could encourage more honest feedback while maintaining a safe environment for all users.
The testing phase is expected to provide valuable insights into user behavior and the effectiveness of such features in promoting healthier online discussions. Early data from similar experiments on other platforms suggests that private feedback mechanisms can lead to a 30% reduction in reported harassment cases.
Should the feature prove successful, it could pave the way for more sophisticated content moderation tools across Meta’s family of apps. Industry analysts predict that social media platforms will continue to evolve their engagement features to balance user expression with community safety.
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