Instagram is once again tweaking its platform, this time by introducing a dislike button for comments—a move that has garnered mixed reactions.
Unlike a traditional dislike feature, this button won’t publicly display the number of dislikes, nor will users be notified if their comment receives a downvote.
Instead, the goal is to improve comment ranking, ensuring that more relevant and meaningful discussions appear at the top.
Instagram’s head, Adam Mosseri, explained the rationale behind this test, stating, “Some of you may have seen that we’re testing a new button next to comments on Instagram – this gives people a private way to signal that they don’t feel good about that particular comment.”
He further clarified that dislikes will eventually contribute to how comments are ranked on the platform, shaping the visibility of discussions over time.
While Instagram’s dislike button is similar to Reddit’s downvote feature, which helps push lower-quality comments out of sight, it differs from platforms like YouTube, where dislikes on videos serve little function beyond user expression.
Here, the goal is to filter out irrelevant or offensive comments, though critics argue it could easily be used for mass downvoting by users who disagree with differing opinions.
A Meta spokesperson reinforced this intent, telling TechCrunch that the primary goal of the feature is to improve comment quality, aligning with Mosseri’s statement.
However, many users remain skeptical about whether this will reduce toxicity or simply add another way for users to express hostility.
Unsurprisingly, the new feature has been met with mixed reactions online.
While some believe a dislike button is simply a way to express disagreement without starting an argument, others see it as yet another tool that could be misused for negativity.
Criticism has been widespread, with one user calling it, “lame as hell,” arguing that Instagram is deliberately creating more ways for users to engage in online disputes.
Another wrote, “It’s like they want to continue to see us argue and hate each other.”
Concerns over mental health have also been raised, with some users fearing that a dislike button could increase insecurity and make social media a harsher place.
“They don’t care about kids’ mental health, I see.”
However, some support the feature, pointing out that if a thumbs-up button signifies agreement, a downvote is just a neutral way of saying ‘I disagree’ rather than an outright attack.
This test comes amid a series of recent platform updates by Instagram, including:
1. Testing a video-editing app similar to CapCut, further competing with TikTok.
2. Extending the length of Reels to three minutes, a move widely seen as mirroring TikTok’s format.
3. Removing third-party fact-checkers, a decision that sparked debate over misinformation and content moderation.
As of now, the dislike button is only available to a small group of users, with no confirmation on when or if it will roll out globally.
Meta insists that this test is aimed at improving conversations, not fueling negativity.
However, whether it will genuinely lead to more meaningful discussions—or simply create another battleground for online disputes—remains to be seen.
For now, Instagram users should brace for potential changes in their comment sections. And if all else fails, maybe it’s time to stick to emojis—because no one downvotes a heart reaction.
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