Published on February 18th, 2025
Instagram has recently introduced a new feature that has sparked conversations among users.
The social media giant is currently testing a ‘dislike’ button for comments, aimed at giving users a more private way to express their dissatisfaction with particular comments in the feed and on Reels.
This update has the potential to change how comments are ranked and moderated on Instagram, ultimately leading to a more user-friendly experience.
In this blog post, we’ll delve into the details of this feature, its potential impact on Instagram’s comment ecosystem, and what it means for both users and content creators. Let’s explore how this new test could shape the future of online interactions.
What is the Instagram ‘Dislike’ Button?
The ‘dislike’ button, which Instagram is currently testing, allows users to privately signal that they find a particular comment either irrelevant or unappealing.
It is positioned next to comments on Instagram’s Feed posts and Reels, providing an alternative to the traditional ‘like’ or heart button.
This feature is being rolled out in a limited test phase, with a small group of users participating in the trial.
Instagram head, Adam Mosseri, took to Threads to explain that the company is testing this feature to gather user feedback and refine the experience.
Read More: Instagram Introduces Teen Accounts In India With New Safety Features
Key Features of the ‘Dislike’ Button:
- Private Feedback: Tapping the dislike button does not display a public count, meaning no one will know if a user has disliked a comment.
- No Public Dislike Count: Instagram has made it clear that the number of dislikes on a comment won’t be visible, ensuring that users can dislike comments without judgment.
- Potential Comment Ranking Impact: In the future, Instagram may use these private signals to influence the ranking of comments, lowering disliked comments in visibility.
Why is Instagram Testing the Dislike Button?
The motivation behind Instagram’s testing of the dislike button stems from a desire to improve the quality of conversations in the app’s comment sections.
Adam Mosseri has noted that this tool is a way for users to express their dissatisfaction without causing public drama or escalating negativity.
Improving the Quality of Comments
Instagram’s ultimate goal is to create a better experience for users by curating comment sections that foster more meaningful interactions. With this feature, Instagram hopes to:
- Reduce negativity: Users can signal when comments don’t align with the platform’s community guidelines or when they simply find them irrelevant.
- Enhance comment ranking: Eventually, Instagram may adjust the visibility of comments based on how many users dislike them, pushing lower-quality or unhelpful comments down.
Instagram’s push to improve comment sections follows a trend set by other social media platforms like Reddit, which has long utilized a downvote mechanism for comment moderation.
#Instagram is working on the ability to dislike comments 👀 pic.twitter.com/OjOb6IQaoI
— Alessandro Paluzzi (@alex193a) January 18, 2025
How Does the ‘Dislike’ Button Compare to Reddit’s Downvote System?
Instagram’s dislike button shares some similarities with Reddit’s downvote system, which has been in use for years.
On Reddit, users can upvote or downvote comments to influence how they appear in the comment thread, with highly upvoted comments rising to the top while downvoted ones are buried.
However, Instagram’s approach differs in several key ways:
- Private feedback: Unlike Reddit, Instagram’s dislike button will not show a public count, allowing users to express their discontent without drawing attention to themselves.
- No immediate impact: While Reddit’s upvotes and downvotes immediately affect the visibility of comments, Instagram’s test phase doesn’t yet have such a significant effect. Instead, dislikes may eventually help in comment ranking algorithms.
As Instagram continues to fine-tune this feature, it’s still unclear how dislikes will impact overall comment visibility or whether Instagram will eventually incorporate these signals into its broader content ranking system.
Read More: Reddit Unveils New Trends Tools For Businesses
What Does This Mean for Instagram Users and Content Creators?
For Instagram users, the dislike button is likely to improve the quality of the comments they encounter.
Whether you’re scrolling through your feed or watching Reels, you might see fewer irrelevant or toxic comments as the platform refines its comment ranking system based on feedback from dislikes.
For content creators, the new feature may also change how you engage with your audience. You’ll need to keep an eye on the evolving dynamics of comment moderation:
- Increased comment engagement: With the addition of the dislike button, users might feel more empowered to leave feedback on your content, offering you deeper insights into what resonates with your followers.
- Cleaner comment sections: By moving disliked comments lower in the rankings, Instagram could create a more positive and constructive comment environment, allowing content creators to maintain a better community atmosphere.
Will Instagram Keep the Dislike Button?
As of now, Instagram is running this feature in a small test group, and its future remains uncertain.
However, if the feedback from the test group is positive, the company may roll it out more widely, integrating it into their algorithm to improve comment section quality.
It’s important to note that the feature is still in its trial phase, meaning Instagram could make adjustments based on how users interact with it.
The dislike button could be refined, replaced, or even discarded, depending on how effective it proves in addressing user concerns and enhancing engagement.
Read More: Will Instagram’s Edits App Replace CapCut? Here’s What To Expect
Conclusion
The testing of the dislike button on Instagram marks a significant step toward refining the social media experience.
By introducing a way for users to privately express their discontent with comments, Instagram aims to create a more thoughtful and respectful comment section.
While the feature is still in its infancy, its potential to improve user interactions and content discovery could change the way we interact with posts and comments on the platform.
As Instagram continues to evolve its features to foster a better user experience, it will be interesting to see how the dislike button shapes comment engagement and how users respond to this new tool.
Stay tuned for further updates on how this feature develops and what it means for both users and content creators alike.
