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Instagram is currently experimenting with a new feature that allows users to privately dislike or downvote comments on both Feed posts and Reels. This move comes after users began noticing a discreet new button next to comments, prompting speculation about its purpose. Now, the company has confirmed that this test aims to provide users with a way to signal when they find a comment unhelpful, irrelevant, or simply unpleasant.
Adam Mosseri, Instagram’s head, took to Threads to clarify that this feature will not publicly display the number of dislikes, and no one-including the comment’s author-will be notified when someone taps the button. However, over time, these dislikes could influence comment rankings, potentially pushing down negative or unhelpful responses.
“As some of you may have noticed, we’re testing a new button next to Instagram comments. This button gives users a discreet option to express their disapproval of a specific comment. To be clear, this is just a test, and there will be no visible dislike count. No one will know when someone taps the button. In the future, we might factor these signals into our ranking system to move disliked comments lower in the thread. Our goal is to create a more positive and engaging environment in the comments section,” Mosseri stated.
The feature had already been spotted in development last month by app researcher Alessandro Paluzzi, who shared screenshots hinting at Instagram’s potential new approach to comment moderation. Now, Meta has made the test official, explaining that the initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance user control over their Instagram experience.
A Meta spokesperson elaborated on the company’s intent, stating, “We are actively exploring ways to improve the Instagram experience and offer users more control over what they see. As part of this, we’re testing a new button next to comments on both Reels and Feed posts. This allows individuals to privately indicate when they feel a comment is unhelpful or irrelevant. We’re currently rolling this out to a small group of users. In the future, we may also experiment with ranking disliked comments lower to foster a more constructive discussion space.”
While this move echoes the downvote mechanism Reddit has successfully employed for years-where upvotes and downvotes influence the visibility of comments-it remains unclear whether Meta will give as much weight to these signals as Reddit does. Regardless, this feature could mark a significant shift in Instagram’s moderation approach, potentially curbing negativity and improving the overall quality of conversations on the platform.
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