Instagram is changing comments in a big way
Instagram comments are getting more like Facebook.
The company is updating its comments so users can like each other's comments on posts, the Facebook-owned company announced on Tuesday. The app is also adding the ability to turn off commenting on specific posts and remove followers from private accounts without using the block button.
All of the changes are starting to roll out as of Tuesday, but Instagram says it should take a couple weeks to show up to everyone.
In a blog post Tuesday, Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom said the ability to like comments helps Instagram users "show support and encourages positivity throughout the community."
Just as you would "like" a regular post on Instagram, you can like a comment by tapping the heart next to it. Like counts are displayed underneath the comments as well. Unlike Facebook, Instagram says "liking" a comment won't impact where it appears on a particular post, though the addition of likes certainly opens the possibility of ranked comments in the future.
The app is also giving users more control over commenting with the ability to disable comments on specific posts. Instagram previously had a version of this tool available but only to certain verified accounts.
With its new update though, any account can disable comments for a post by tapping into the new "advanced settings" menu before they post their photo or video.
Finally, Instagram is adding the ability to remove a follower without blocking them -- if you have a private account. Previously, the only way to prevent someone who followed you from viewing your posts was to block them.
If you remove someone as your follower, they won't get a notification (blocking also doesn't trigger a notification).
The updates come after some high profile users have left Instagram over abuse. (Most notably, Justin Bieber who, last week, said "Instagram is for the devil.")
Systrom said Tuesday the updates are part of the company's ongoing effort to make Instagram a "welcoming and safe place for everyone," highlighting previous updates around comment filtering and support tools for users with mental illness as other recent improvements.
Topics Instagram
Karissa was Mashable's Senior Tech Reporter, and is based in San Francisco. She covers social media platforms, Silicon Valley, and the many ways technology is changing our lives. Her work has also appeared in Wired, Macworld, Popular Mechanics, and The Wirecutter. In her free time, she enjoys snowboarding and watching too many cat videos on Instagram. Follow her on Twitter @karissabe.
