No More Social Media Likes?
Imagine a world where you could no longer see how many likes a social media post receives. Without social media likes, would you feel desolate or relieved? For Instagram and Twitter users, this imaginary scenario may soon become a reality.
Leaders at both companies are already testing the removal or concealment of social media likes on posts. But why?
Here’s Our Take
Jonathan Ochart, CEO of The Postcard Agency, discusses what the removal or concealment of likes on Instagram and Twitter posts means for digital marketers, business owners, influencers and others concerned about social media engagement. Check out his take on the potential change on YouTube:
According to Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, the move aims to reduce the amount of stress associated with how many likes their photo and video posts receive.
“We want people to worry a little bit less about how many likes they’re getting on Instagram and spend a bit more time connecting with the people that they care about,” Mosseri said at Facebook’s annual developer conference, F8, reports The Washington Post.
Twitter may also remove likes, along with retweets. The social media platform is testing the impacts of eliminating social media likes with twttr, a prototype of the Twitter app. In the prototype, engagement metrics are revealed when someone clicks on an individual tweet.
What Could Fewer Social Media Likes Mean to Marketers?
These changes present opportunities for digital marketers, social media managers, business owners and influencers to shift the focus from vanity metrics to engagement metrics that matter. Placing less importance on likes and more importance on comments and shares, for example, can help brands foster meaningful conversations and relationships with target audiences.
The approach may also eliminate the proliferation of Instagram and Twitter bots that give a false sense of engagement through automated likes.
What do you think about the possible removal of likes on Instagram and Twitter? Comment below with your thoughts!
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About The Postcard Agency
The Postcard Agency connects brands with target audiences through dynamic digital, social media, content marketing and video marketing strategies. Crafty and creative, the award-winning social media marketing agency reinvigorates brands with imaginative and results-driven campaigns.
