This archive report was first published on 13 November 2019.
On reaching a million followers, BBC reporter Larry Madowo expressed his support for Instagram to remove the 'Like' button, citing its unhealthy and pressurizing effects on users.
According to Madowo, the 'Like' button creates an impossible standard for most people, making them feel uncomfortable expressing themselves.
He added, 'It's unhealthy, I hope they're removed permanently for everyone around the world.'
Instagram has been testing out hiding likes in several countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Ireland, Italy, Japan, and New Zealand, since July.
While likes aren't completely gone, users can still view the like count on their own photos and videos, but not on posts from others.
Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri has stated that removing likes is 'about creating a less pressurized environment where people feel comfortable expressing themselves.'
He also announced that at first, likes will only disappear for certain users as a test of the feature, saying, 'We will make decisions that hurt the business if they help people's well-being and health.'
