Short version: nothing dramatic happens either way. Instagram’s own 2025 data shows that turning likes off rarely moves the engagement needle for most users—some see a small lift, others a tiny drop, but the averages balance out.
A few quick truths:
The algorithm doesn’t punish you. Adam Mosseri has repeated that hiding likes is a display choice, not a ranking signal. Your post’s reach still rides on watch-time, comments, shares, and saves.
Audience psychology matters more than math. If your followers like visible social proof, leaving counts on might nudge extra double-taps. If they’re quality-over-quantity types, hidden counts can shift focus to captions and comments.
Mental bandwidth is underrated. Many creators report posting more freely once the vanity metric disappears—and more posts usually means more total engagement regardless of like visibility.
My advice: flip the setting for two weeks, keep your content cadence identical, and watch three numbers: comments-per-reach, saves-per-reach, and profile-visits-per-impression. If they stay flat or climb, great—keep likes hidden. If they dip noticeably, toggle back on. Simple A/B in real life beats any opinion thread (even mine).
Bottom line: for small accounts, hiding likes is neutral for the algorithm and potentially positive for your headspace. Test it, measure it, then decide.
Hope that helps you post with less pressure and more punch!
— Jeff
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