Facebook is now trialing the removal of the likes count on its platform in Australia.
From today, the social media giant will remove the number of reactions a post receives from public view for some users. Video view counts will also be hidden as part of the trial.
The metrics will remain visible to the author of the post.
The move comes after Facebook hid the likes count on Instagram for some countries, including Australia, earlier this year which it says was met with positive feedback.
The social media giant is hoping that hiding the number of likes a post receives will remove the pressure that comes with chasing high volumes of likes.
“We want Facebook to be a place where people can connect and share in ways most valuable to them,” Mia Garlick, director of policy at Facebook Australia says.
“To that end, in Australia we are testing making the total number of likes, reactions and video view counts across Facebook private. We want to understand from people whether removing the total counts improves their experience, while also not limiting any positive interactions.
“We want our platform to be a place for meaningful interactions with friends and family, and continue to invest in tools that support people's well-being."
Above: How Facebook reactions currently appear on posts
Below: How Facebook reactions appear as part of the trial
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