to ask just what exactly this new influencer "no likes" ruling is?

[ComeBackPeterComeBackPaul]

Is it a device to "help" the mental health of the influencers or is it for the benefit of the followers? It is good to see the link between social media and mental health under the spotlight but I am confused by what it is trying to achieve.

Link? whats the AIBU?

Ah, unreasonable to ask as I should be able to work it out myself!

metro.co.uk/2019/07/18/instagrams-new-no-likes-model-signal-death-influencer-10416073/ This!

Apparently it's to move away from posting being all about likes and more about what inspires you or you actually like.

It also stops your followers from just jumping on the bandwagon.

It's supposed to encourage comments so there's more engagement. That means businesses will have to use an analytic process to find out what's working.

Ideally people won't be picked up and dropped as easily.

I personally think it is a good idea. I am 20 years old, and while it couldn't phase me in the slightest now, when I was 14-15, still in school and in the age of caring what people think, how many likes you got was "a big deal". (first world problems, right?)
The "popular" girls got hundreds of likes for getting their arses and tits out in photos, and people who didn't felt unequal. It was horrible. I'm sure not everyone feels like that as a teenager, but for my group of friends it did bother us.
As a 20 year old, I have a couple of friends who tend to stage things in order to get likes on instagram. The other day we went out for dinner, I ordered a huge steak because it would be bloody delicious, but she ordered a small salmon starter because, AND I QUOTE, "it'll photograph well". She doesn't even like salmon!
I just think it will be nicer as teenagers won't feel like they have to impress people by posting certain things and acting in certain ways to get likes, as likes are no longer relevant. People will be more confident to post what interests them, their hobbies and about their true personalities - it'll make social media a lot more interesting!
I think this whole idea is aimed at younger people such as teenagers who use social media, to whom likes are much more important than perhaps adults who use the same platforms.

people can still like your posts and you can see how many but others can't.

I think it’s good. It means that kids won’t be comparing the number of likes they get to the number of likes someone else gets and feeling bad about themselves.

Ah, thanks for that - yes, it does make some kind of sense I guess. Really interesting reply smokeytoby - very insightful of the pressures that social media can cause. I have been reading about the Australian influencers who are complaining about it, seems like a good thing. Maybe a bit of transparency and engagement will make it a more interesting place again.

What i’m confused about is, if this is all to do with choosing people to follow based on what you like rather than popularity are they going to change the algorithm back?

Facebook have to monetise Instagram as that’s why FB is valued so high.

Won't there be an easy way around it....you can photograph how many likes you have and publish that?
I wonder how many app developers around the world are working on a solution (way round) to the new rule

@swissmilk - yes, that's a point, though it would have to be updated very regularly and might just make the 'grammer look a bit "needy" in a world where being cool is paramount.

I'm going against the grain and really hoping this doesn't go ahead

@puppy23 - why? Really interested to know as I am all at sea!