On Thursday, the social network said it was starting a test in Australia, where people's Likes, video view counts and other measurements of posts would become private to other users, after activists have advocated that the metrics have a negative impact on self-esteem
The Facebook campus in Menlo Park, Calif., on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019. Facebook is moving to limit the importance of Likes and other metrics. On Sept. 26, the social network said it was starting a test in Australia where people’s Likes, video view counts and other measurements of posts would become private to other users. It is the first time the company has announced plans to hide the numbers on its platform. Facebook said it had not decided whether to roll out the experiment beyond Australia. (Jim Wilson/The New York Times)
SAN FRANCISCO — For years, people who use Facebook, Instagram and Twitter have chased Likes as a status symbol. More Likes on a social media post meant it was popular, engaging and worthwhile.©2019 New York Times News Service