Why Instagram Hiding ‘Likes’ Could Be Good for Users – and the Bottom Line
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Likes impact the brain in the same way sex and gambling do — and can lead to compulsive phone checking — one expert tells TheWrap
Instagram is testing whether to hide “likes” on posts — a potential move that, if adopted across the entire platform, could have a substantial impact on the routines and mental health of its 1 billion users.
That’s because there’s growing evidence to suggest overexposure to likes may not be good for the human brain.
“The brain responds to likes like any other reward or thing that excites the brain like food, sex or gambling,” said Ofir Turel, a professor at Cal State University, Fullerton and researcher at the University of Southern California. “When you get likes, the reward system lights up and releases dopamine, making us feel good.”