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Instagram test gives you new options for hiding likes

The test lets people decide when and where they see likes on Instagram.

Erin Carson Former Senior Writer
Erin Carson covered internet culture, online dating and the weird ways tech and science are changing your life.
Expertise Erin has been a tech reporter for almost 10 years. Her reporting has taken her from the Johnson Space Center to San Diego Comic-Con's famous Hall H. Credentials
  • She has a master's degree in journalism from Syracuse University.
Erin Carson
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You might get control over when you see likes on Instagram. 

Sarah Tew/CNET

Instagram is testing a feature that could let you decide when you want to hide likes on your posts, the company confirmed Wednesday. 

After Instagram started hiding like counts for a small group of people in 2019 to see whether it had an impact on the pressure people feel to post, the company found that some users actually do prefer to see likes. 

Read more: How to make a TikTok Duet on Instagram

"We're testing a new option that lets you decide which experience is best for you -- whether that's choosing not to see like counts on anyone else's posts, turning them off for your own posts, or keeping the original experience, and seeing like counts," a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement. Instagram is owned by Facebook. 

The feature could also come to Facebook at some point, the spokesperson said.