Instagram is experimenting with a “dislike” button for comments, a move confirmed by Instagram head Adam Mosseri on Threads. The feature, currently available to a small number of users, is designed to help the platform identify and rank comments based on user feedback.
Unlike the traditional “like” button, the new dislike button will not be publicly visible. Users can downvote a comment, but the total number of dislikes will remain hidden. This means that while users can express disapproval of certain comments, they won’t see how many others have done the same.
The purpose of the dislike button is to improve Instagram’s ranking system for comments. Comments that receive more dislikes may be pushed lower in the thread, while more positively received comments will remain at the top. This could help limit the visibility of spam, offensive, or misleading comments without completely removing them.
Instagram’s dislike button seems to be an attempt to enhance user experience by curbing negativity and spam in comment sections. Platforms like YouTube and Reddit already use similar features YouTube has a dislike button for videos (though the count is hidden), while Reddit allows users to downvote comments, affecting their visibility.
Mosseri clarified that the goal is not to create a toxic environment but to give users a way to provide feedback on comments that may not add value to discussions. Instagram’s algorithms will use the data from dislikes to better organize comment sections, ensuring that relevant and constructive comments are more prominent.
The introduction of a dislike button could change the way people interact with content on Instagram. On one hand, it may encourage more meaningful discussions by filtering out irrelevant or harmful comments. On the other hand, some users may worry about potential misuse, such as targeted downvoting campaigns against certain individuals or opinions.
By keeping the dislike count private, Instagram aims to prevent public shaming while still leveraging the data to improve content ranking. However, how effective this will be in practice remains to be seen.
Since the feature is still in testing, it’s unclear when or if it will be rolled out to all users. Instagram will likely gather feedback before making a final decision. For now, the dislike button remains an experimental tool aimed at refining the user experience on the platform.
