Instagram users have been seeing a new "dislike" button lately when navigating the comments section of posts and Reels. Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri has now confirmed that the feature is being tested, providing users with a means to downvote comments anonymously.

How the dislike button works

Unlike other downvote features, Instagram's dislike button will not show a public tally. People who dislike a comment will not be made public, and the overall number of dislikes will not be displayed. Instead, the information will be used to shift comment rankings, possibly hiding negative or unhelpful comments.

Meta’s strategy aligns with YouTube's decision to remove public dislike counts from videos in 2021. According to Mosseri, this new feature is designed to provide a “private way to signal that they don’t feel good about that particular comment” and could contribute to a more positive comment environment on the platform.

Limited testing, no official rollout date yet

Christine Pai, a spokesperson for Instagram, explained to The Verge that the dislike button is being tested “with a small group of people.” Meta has not given any information on when the testing will end or if the feature will be rolled out to everyone in the near future.

Instagram new features

Besides testing the dislike button, Instagram has been rolling out new features that are designed to make the platform safer, especially for young users. Meta recently rolled out its Teen Accounts feature to India, enabling parents to track their children's activity and limit screen time.

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