Rumor has it Instagram may hide the number of likes on posts in a few test markets here in the US. ABOUT DAMNED TIME! Apparently this test has already happened in Canada and I’m very curious if they have evaluated the outcome of the experiment. I’m sure most people are aware of how strong an influence social media can have on someone’s emotional well-being. Far too often, people use social media as a means to validate themselves. Self-worth should never be based on the number likes anyone gets – or doesn’t get. I have seen photographers get upset when they don’t get a ‘follow’ for a ‘follow’ or when another photographer posts a similar image to theirs and gets far more likes. I have seen models stress about the number of followers they lose over an image or two. Some models post increasingly risqué images in the hopes of getting just a few more likes than their last risqué image – and getting quite upset when it doesn’t happen. Additionally, some people will like an image based solely on the fact someone they know, like, or respect, liked the same image too. Likes and follows have become our affirmation, our gauge of acceptance, and the demise of our self-worth. I was recently part of a private Instagram group where individuals would post images (that are also linked to the same image on the public site) with an expectation that group members would like and comment on the images - all in the hopes that the increase traffic and attention on the image will help boost its overall visibility on Instagram. I had no problem finding positive and constructive things to say about their work and I honestly feel like I can learn something from everyone. However, I never shared any of my images in the group. It isn’t because I thought I was ‘better’ than that (otherwise I never would have joined the group) but more because I desire genuine followers of my work. I would rather have a handful of followers that genuinely appreciate and want to follow my work than a bunch of followers that like and comment on my images only in the hopes of receiving some sort of reciprocal benefit. This holds true even if it means zero followers or zero comments for me. For some people, getting tons of likes and comments actually affects their commercial value which in turn influences the types and number of commercial opportunities they may be offered. I understand that and think it is a completely justified reason to attempt to increase one’s numbers. However, I’m not in it for commercial purposes. Never have been. And I don’t think Instagram’s proposed plan is aimed at those individuals. I think it’s aimed at the skyrocketing examples of depression and suicide linked to social media. If your personal well-being is measured in followers, likes, and/or comments, you are bound to be miserable because no amount of followers, likes, or comments will ever be enough. If your goal is to create a commercial brand for yourself, garnering a following makes complete sense. Just make sure you know why you’re doing what you’re doing and manage the expectations accordingly. For me, the joy comes from the creation, not necessarily the public display that follows. That is not to say that I don’t enjoy affirmation but that’s not the driving force behind my passion, it’s just icing on the already delicious cake. So if Instagram wants to hide the number of likes and/or followers one has, I’m all for it. I’m willing to bet emotional health among the population of individuals using social media would increase dramatically. I also think people would more carefully evaluate each post individually on its merits instead of just seeing how many people may have liked it previously and simply jump on the bandwagon. I also think it helps creatives post more freely without having to worry about how it will be perceived and consumed by viewers. Instagram, if you’re listening, you have permission to begin the experiment in the U.S. with my account!
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