American rappers Cardi B and Nicki Minaj have reacted to Instagram’s decision to hide “Likes” for users in the United States.
Cardi B in a video said she believes Instagram took a nasty turn when the app gave users the ability to like and reply to comments. She then agreed that something needs to be done to address the features conducive to cyberbullying and the broader issue of how online interaction can affect one’s “self-esteem.”
Cardi B continued:
“I really feel it’s the way that the comments have been changed in these few years. I feel like people were saying the weirdest sh*t, been starting the craziest arguments… all because of comments because they want to get to the top, they want to get the most reactions. The comments affect more than likes.”
See video below:
https://www.instagram.com/tv/B4qm1B7A-6B/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Nicki Minaj, in an Instagram video on the other hand, threatened to boycott Instagram if her likes are hidden.
”I am not posting on IG after this week cus they removing the likes. They took away your engagements in the first place by disrupting the algorithm. They don’t want you to go off on the side, forming all sorts of businesses and being able to say ‘I get this amount of likes’ and charging brands. Now those companies instead of going to you, they will have to go and pay Instagram so they can have a post that says ‘Sponsored’.”
Instagram, which is owned by Facebook (FB), has already been testing hiding likes in seven other countries, including Canada, Ireland and Australia.