Instagram is testing a new option that allows some users to privately like Stories. Only Stories authors will see the total Like count.
Instagram has started testing the ability for its users to like Stories privately. At present, the feature is a limited test, only visible to a small group of people globally.
The Meta-owned company explains that the feature is “a way to react to stories without sending a direct message.” Furthermore, only a Story’s author will be able to see the total number of likes, and Instagram doesn’t intend to make the like count public in the future.
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Those who are already able to see Story Likes are receiving a notification advising them that they may privately receive the new form of user interaction on their Stories.
At present, Instagram users can reply to a Story with a private message and privately react to them with any of eight emoji prompts, including celebrations, heart-eyes, clap, and laughing.
But the introduction of Stories Likes will make it easier for users and influencers to visually quantify the engagement their Stories receive, making it easier to measure engagement on their Stories.
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Back in May last year, Instagram introduced the ability for its users to hide public like counts on their feed posts, an option Meta started testing on Instagram and Facebook last year.
With the introduction of private Story Likes, it is becoming even more apparent that the company is expanding its efforts to maintain the stress of social recognition away from its users. At the same time, it supports the ability for creators to gauge engagement as they go.
Among other efforts to encourage users to use and engage with Stories is the introduction of Duet-like “Add Yours“ stickers in November last year, a feature that gives users more ways to collaborate and discover new people to follow, as it allows them to respond to other users’ Stories with their own.
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