You might have spotted a new, subtle change popping up in your Instagram comments section lately: a small, downward-pointing arrow appearing right next to the usual “reply” and “translate” buttons. If you’ve been wondering what it’s all about, you’re not alone. A number of users have started spotting this new addition and are asking questions. This feature, which looks a lot like a downvote button, is actually a private way for you to signal that you’re not too keen on a particular comment.
Instagram, like many other social platforms, is always looking for ways to improve the user experience and make the community a friendlier place. The head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, shared some insight on this new button back in February. He clarified that it’s still very much a test and it’s important to know there’s no public dislike count. So, if you tap that down arrow, nobody else will see it, not the commenter, and not anyone else Browse the comments. It’s a completely private piece of feedback.
The main idea behind this discreet down arrow is to help Instagram understand which comments might not be adding much value, or perhaps even come across as negative or unhelpful. Eventually, the plan is to use these signals to influence how comments are ranked.
This means comments that receive a lot of these private downvotes might get pushed lower down in the comment section, making them less visible. The hope here is to encourage more positive and relevant conversations, making the comments section a more enjoyable space for everyone.
It’s a step towards community-led moderation without the public shaming that can sometimes come with visible dislike counts. So, while it might look like a “dislike” button, think of it more as a quiet nod to Instagram that you’d rather not see that type of comment at the top of your feed. It’s still in its testing phase, meaning it’s not available to everyone just yet and its widespread release is pending.
Speaking of moderation, thousands of Instagram and Facebook users who got their accounts banned likely due to misfiring AI moderation systems are still left hanging with no proper fix in sight. You can read all about that here.
TechIssuesToday primarily focuses on publishing 'breaking' or 'exclusive' tech news. This means, we are usually the first news website on the whole Internet to highlight the topics we cover daily. So far, our stories have been picked up by many mainstream technology publications like The Verge, Macrumors, Forbes, etc. To know more, head here.
Dwayne Cubbins
1079 Posts
For nearly a decade, I've been deciphering the complexities of the tech world, with a particular passion for helping users navigate the ever-changing tech landscape. From crafting in-depth guides that unlock your phone's hidden potential to uncovering and explaining the latest bugs and glitches, I make sure you get the most out of your devices. And yes, you might occasionally find me ranting about some truly frustrating tech mishaps.
Follow Us
