Instagram is testing a new feature that allows users to privately dislike or downvote comments on posts and Reels, the company confirmed.
Instagram chief Adam Mosseri addressed the test in a post on Threads, clarifying that the feature will not display a public dislike count, and users will not be notified if their comment receives a downvote. However, he noted that Instagram may eventually incorporate dislikes into its comment ranking system to push less relevant or unfriendly comments lower in the thread.
“This gives people a private way to signal that they don’t feel good about a particular comment,” Mosseri stated. “Our hope is that this might help make comments more friendly on Instagram.”
Meta said the test aims to improve comment quality and enhance user 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,” a company spokesperson said.
The feature is currently being tested with a small group of users. If successful, Instagram may adjust its ranking system to deprioritize disliked comments.
Other platforms, such as Reddit, have long used a downvote mechanism to sort comments based on community feedback. However, it remains unclear how much weight Instagram will give to these private dislikes in determining comment visibility.
