Instagram Tests a Dislike Button Only for Comments

Highlights

• Instagram is testing a dislike button specifically for comments on both Feed posts and Reels.
• It won’t show dislike counts publicly but will help rank comments.
• The feature aims to improve comment quality by allowing users to downvote irrelevant or distasteful comments.
• It’s currently available to a limited group of users.

It appears we are not down with the dislike buttons even after several platforms tried and failed to implement it successfully. Instagram is now experimenting with a new dislike button, although the catch is that it’s not for posts or Reels but it’s just for the comments.

The platform says this feature will help users downvote irrelevant or distasteful comments, making conversations more positive.

How Dislike Button for Instagram Comments Will Work?

The dislike button is currently being tested on both Feed posts and Reels. However, Instagram won’t show dislike counts publicly. Instead, as Instagram head Adam Mosseri explained on Threads, dislikes will help rank comments, similar to Reddit’s downvote system.

 

View on Threads

 

“This gives people a private way to signal that they don’t feel good about that particular comment. […] Our hope is that this might help make comments more friendly on Instagram,” Mosseri wrote.

A Meta spokesperson echoed this telling TechCrunch that the main goal of the feature is to improve comment quality. As of now, it’s just a small test available to a limited group of users, but Instagram could expand it in the future.

“We’re working on ways to help people better control their Instagram experience and what they’re seeing on the app,” a company spokesperson said. “We’re testing a new button next to each comment on a Reel or Feed post for people to privately signal they don’t feel good about that particular comment or find it relevant. We’re testing this with a very small group of people to start. Later, we may also test moving these comments lower down in the comments section to help create a better experience,” they added.

Instagram has been making a lot of updates lately as the platform is working on a video-editing app that looks very similar to TikTok’s editing tool CapCut. It also extended Reels to three minutes, another move that seems inspired by TikTok.

In another big change, Instagram recently removed third-party fact-checkers, though the company didn’t provide a clear reason beyond citing concerns about freedom.

FAQs

Q1. What is Instagram testing with the new dislike button?

Answer. Instagram is testing a dislike button specifically for comments on both Feed posts and Reels. The dislike counts won’t be shown publicly but will help rank comments similar to Reddit’s downvote system.

Q2. What is the purpose of the dislike button for Instagram comments?

Answer. The feature aims to improve comment quality by allowing users to downvote irrelevant or distasteful comments, making conversations more positive.

Q3. What new updates have Instagram made recently?

Answer. Instagram is developing a video-editing app similar to TikTok’s CapCut, extending Reels to three minutes, and has recently removed third-party fact-checkers citing concerns about freedom.

Also Read:Instagram Gives Creators More Tools to Track Reel Performance