[imagesource: TechCrunch]

The likes we get on social media are a form of social capital, and can do a lot to influence people’s opinion of you and your profile, as well as affect how you see yourself.

Just ask the plastic surgeons who are getting bombarded by teenagers wanting surgery done.

Too many people, especially youngsters with low self-esteem, depend on Instagram likes for their daily dose of affirmation.

But now the platform is giving us the option to control this.

From now on, all Instagram users can hide the likes and views from displaying on their own image and video posts.

You’ll still receive notifications whenever a post is liked by another user, even when the likes count is turned off. However, other users won’t see how many likes a post gets.

A more “likes-free” experience is also possible, as the app will let you hide the likes and view counters from all posts in your timeline.

Image: Instagram

Instagram will make showing and seeing likes optional for users who prefer to “focus on the photos and videos being shared, instead of how many likes posts get,” but the functionality will remain.

Lifehacker has more:

Removing public like counts on all posts wouldn’t make much sense, anyway—Instagram likes are an important audience engagement metric for brands and influencers.

So, how does one hide the little heart counts, then?

How to hide likes on a new Instagram post

• Start a new post.
• Tap “Advanced Settings” at the bottom of the final editing screen where you add the post’s caption.
• Enable “Hide Likes and View count for this post.”
• Go back to the editing screen, then tap the checkmark to create your post.

How to hide likes on existing Instagram posts

• Go to your Instagram profile and open a post.
• Tap the three-dot icon in the upper-right, then select “Hide Like Count.”
• Repeat for each post you want to hide likes on. You can turn this feature on or off at any time after posting.

How to keep likes and view counts from showing on other people’s Instagram posts

• From your Instagram profile, go to Settings > Posts.
• Toggle “Hide Like and View counts.”
• You will no longer see likes/views listed on any posts in your timeline

An important point for that last one – this does not affect if others can see the likes/views on your own posts.

You will still need to change the settings for your own posts.

Go forth and enjoy Instagram, like-free.

Better yet, put down your phone and do something else altogether.

[source:lifehacker]