Meta is now exploring ways which would give users better control over how their metrics are displayed on Instagram with testing of optional view counts on Reels on your profile. In case of Threads, it would give the users option for hiding Thread replies in the app.
So Instagram is testing a new option which would let creators hide view count display in their Reels tab on their profile. On the other hand, in case of Threads, it would let users remove the listing of their Thread replies from their profile completely. This would imply that only Threads & Reposts would be visible on your profile if chosen.
There are Optional UI elements which would make people feel more comfortable in sharing their thoughts in varying contexts without the concern that they might get criticized for opinions and takes.
In case you are going to post comments, you will have to stand by your opinion and as the original poster is going to read them anyhow, then why you should be able to reduce impact of these statements on your own profile?
Both of these options align with IG push for providing more control for users which began with optional like count display on Instagram which it added back in 2021. IG figured out that some users felt it was beneficial so rather than hiding like counts for users, it made it an optional setting instead.
From perspective of development, it makes more sense for Meta and IG for adding these as options for catering to different users. Also hiding of certain performance data aligns with the broader shift away from vanity metrics which some industry people have been talking about since several years. In case of Threads, company has been experimenting with features which allows users to hide their replies from their profile. This update would be leaving Reposts and Threads visible in user’s profile and provides an option for managing what aspects of their activity are being displayed publicly.
These features align with broader initiative of Meta in offering users more control over their online experience. Such measures have also been implemented in the past such as optional hiding of like counts which were introduced in 2021 by Instagram. This reflects a continual shift in social media towards prioritizing user comfort and reduction of emphasis on visible engagement metrics. This is currently in testing and is expected to roll out broader audience in the months to come.
To check this feature, one must click on Edit Profile button on Threads user profile and scroll down to the option Show Your Replies. By default, this is enabled but one can opt to toggle it off. Even in case one disables showing your replies publicly, one can still view replies from the Threads app settings where one can view other type of content such as Likes, Saved items, Archive etc.
This is not the only control around Replies which Threads has introduced. Previously, the company launched a way to limit who can reply to posts and allows one to choose between profiles you follow, choose between anyone or those which have been mentioned.
If one hides personal interactions like replies which can help in boosting engagement among Thread users. At the start of the year, X chose to make everyone Like private so that users would feel more comfortable engaging with the content which helps in informing recommendations of X.
Instagram is now making the feature available publicly and when asked, the company stated that it had been testing this feature since 2019 so it felt it had enough data to launch it worldwide.
