Instagram tests private dislike button for comments

• Published On: 16 February 2025 at 20:52

Instagram is testing a new feature that will allow users to privately dislike or downvote comments on posts and Reels, the company said.

Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri addressed the test in a Threads post, clarifying that the feature will not show a public dislike count and will not notify users if their comment is downvoted. He did, however, mention that Instagram may eventually incorporate dislikes into its comment ranking system, causing less relevant or unfriendly comments to appear lower in the thread.

"This gives people a private way to signal that they don't feel good about a particular comment," Mosseri told me. "Our hope is that this might help make comments more friendly on Instagram."

Meta stated that the test aims to improve comment quality and give users more control over their Instagram experience. "We're testing a new button next to comments on a Reel or Feed post for people to privately signal they don't feel good about that particular comment or find it irrelevant," according to a company representative.

The feature is currently being tested by a small number of users. If successful, Instagram may change its ranking system to deprioritize negative comments.

Other platforms, such as Reddit, have long used a downvote system to organise comments based on community feedback. However, it is unclear how much weight Instagram will give to private dislikes when determining comment visibility.