Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri has begun the process of removing likes from all posts on the platform. Removing these likes can better the mental health of humans and make social media a better environment for people of all ages. Illustration by Audrey Kennedy
The process to remove likes from Instagram has the potential to improve mental health, prevent cyberbullying and lower rates of depression for social media users.
Walking down the halls of Clarke Central High School, one can see teenagers and adults glued to their phones, clicking on social media apps and skimming through tweets, posts and stories.
According to Medium.com, individuals spend approximately 2 hours and 23 minutes a day on social media scrolling and liking posts. One of the most prominent social media apps, Instagram, is used by 800 million people — most commonly to promote businesses, post pictures and connect with friends and family.
However, in November 2019, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri decided to remove likes from posts. While users can see the amount of likes they receive on their photos and videos, others can not see the total amount of likes.
The removal of Instagram likes could potentially better mental health, prevent cyberbullying and lower rates of depression. This decision was a step in the right direction, considering the negative impacts of social media on individuals.
“The removal of Instagram likes could potentially better mental health, prevent cyberbullying and lower rates of depression.”
A new study from the Guilford Press shows that there is a link between the use of social media and depression. With less social media usage, depression rates go down.
According to an article published by Statista.com, 36.2% of Instagram users are young adults between the ages of 13 and 24. With such young user demographics, the risk of cyberbullying is quite prevalent.
Cyberbullying can range from a person calling another person a name to spreading false rumors to sending threats. According to Pewresearch.org, 59% of U.S. teens have been bullied or harassed online. This is a major problem. Teenagers want to feel accepted not only in the real world but in the virtual one, as well.
“Teenagers want to feel accepted not only in the real world but in the virtual one, as well.”
While Instagram’s removal of likes may help individuals’ mental health, there may be negative consequences for businesses that use Instagram. According to Wired, the number of sponsored posts has increased since 2016, but the removal of these likes might hurt businesses which use Instagram to promote their product.
While Instagram likes can be used in a positive way to promote small businesses, the mental health of individuals should be the primary concern. The removal of likes could be an essential step towards reducing rates of depression and cyberbullying in teens. Overall, mental health, especially for teens, is a major issue that needs to be prioritized.
Instagram is taking a smart approach to prevent these issues from escalating.
