Instagram Tests Dislike Button for Comments, Which Could Eventually Be Used in Comment Rankings to Move Disliked Comments Down

Lindsey Gamble

Instagram is testing a new down arrow button next to comments, which has been spotted by a few users and more recently, confirmed by Instagram head Adam Mosseri. The feature allows users to privately signal that they don’t feel good about a particular comment. There will be no visible dislike count, and others won’t know if the button is tapped.

Lindsey Gamble

This is currently a test, but Instagram may eventually integrate this feedback into the comment ranking system, and potential move disliked comments lower in hopes of creating a more positive and friendly comment section.

Why It Matters: Comments are central to the social media experience, offering a space for users to engage and contribute to conversations. However, they can also become negative or unproductive, especially when discussions spill into sensitive social and political topics. By giving users a private way to signal that a comment feels off, Instagram aims to make comment sections more positive without the public visibility of dislike counts, reducing the likelihood of mob-like behavior.

This is part of a broader trend of social media platforms embracing community-based moderation, which Meta is also experimenting with through its Community Notes feature.