Instagram may soon be changing the way you see likes.
The company is testing a new feature that causes all likes to appear as numbers, even if a photo has fewer than 11 total likes. Previously, photos with fewer than 11 likes showed the usernames of each person who had liked the photo.
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It's not clear how long Instagram has been testing the feature but many users began seeing the new likes over the last couple days. An Instagram spokesperson confirmed the test to Mashable but didn't say if, or when, the feature would show up for more people.
Instagram doesn't show names of your likers anymore even if you have less than 11. Game changer for teens, I predict pic.twitter.com/JlhnIk8aFJ— Maya Kosoff (@mekosoff) February 18, 2016
It's also unclear if those who are part of the test are seeing only numbered like counts or if there's a new, smaller threshold for when likes turn to numbers. Some users said on Twitter that the likes switched over after the first three. Instagram declined to elaborate on specifics of the test.
It may sound like a small change but it could be a significant one -- particularly to the app's younger users. Achieving 11 likes is often perceived as an important milestone for each Instagram post so changing the way the app shows likes could have a big impact.
Predictably, reactions to the new feature were mixed.
Instagram always is showing numbers!!! Now when I post a pic and get 5 likes I won't feel like a loser !!!— Maze Runner Blaze (@robbyFNblaze) February 18, 2016
Finally Instagram have changed it so likes show up as numbers, saved from that wait to reach 11 — Lee (@leeallan_) February 17, 2016
Even though Instagram changed the numbers, I still wait in anticipation for my picture to have 11 likes...— Emily Benkert (@purplemaye) February 18, 2016
Instagram finally changed it to where you see numbers and not names for likes, even if you have less than 11. PRAISES— Jen Jacobs (@JenJacobs_) February 18, 2016
Is my phone malfunctioning or did Instagram update so that there are numbers instead of names before you reach 11 likes? I don't like this— David Branson (@davidkbranson) February 18, 2016
That's so weird, the number of likes on Instagram below 11 now have numbers too— extra (@AvivvSofferr) February 18, 2016
Instagram now shows your number of likes before you get to 11 no longer are the days of seeing names turn to numbers nothing really matters— normal guy (@fijiwaterpapi) February 18, 2016
BONUS: Instagram, the #1 best iPhone app of all time
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