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Facebook considers experimenting with hiding likes

Another way to help improve users' mental health.

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Oscar Gonzalez Staff reporter
Oscar Gonzalez is Texas native who covers video games, conspiracy theories, misinformation and cryptocurrency.
Expertise Video Games, Misinformation, Conspiracy Theories, Cryptocurrency, NFTs, Movies, TV, Economy, Stocks
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Oscar Gonzalez
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There may be a change coming to Facebook likes. 

 James Martin/CNET

Facebook  is considering a test to hide likes on News Feed posts. The company already tested a similar move on Instagram in August as a way to help break users' fixation with getting likes on their pictures. 

Data miner Jane Manchun Wong discovered that Facebook is experimenting with the change in its Android app Monday. The company said Monday it's considering testing the removal of likes on posts to its social media platform, confirming an earlier report by TechCrunch. 

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Watch this: Facebook may hide 'like' counts after it got us all addicted

If implemented, Facebook posts will no longer show the number of likes or reactions to a post. The user who created the post can see a list of people and their reactions, but a number won't be displayed. Wong pointed out that likes and reactions on comments were still viewable with this feature turned on. 

In August, Facebook said it began the test to "remove the pressure of how many likes a post will receive" on Instagram, and it was "excited by the early test results."

It's unclear when the feature will be available on both platforms. 

Originally published on Sept. 2. 
Update, Sept: 3: Adds background details.