CREDIT: LAM LE
Opinion: We all know sharing is caring and with Instagram's cooperation we can start to care about what we share, before it takes a mental toll.

In the era of likes and follows, it becomes increasingly difficult to be yourself online. I believe moulding yourself to fit into an algorithm is taxing on both your emotions and your mental health and Instagram agrees.

Instagram has already removed the feature that shows what your followers are liking, a decision that was generally met with praise. It is to no surprise they are attempting to take out another feature in an attempt to reduce the invasiveness of Instagram: likes. Earlier this year Instagram tested the removal of likes in Canada and this week they are doing the same in small parts of the United States.

With Instagram redefining what it represents through the removal of likes, it makes you wonder how likes impact our lives. What is so captivating about having others see what people like about your life that you’re willing to sacrifice your mental welling being? The short answer is, it’s complicated.


Living in the age technology, it is becoming increasingly difficult to grow a social life without online involvement. Whether it’s for work to streamline the process of communication, a group project or dating, everyone asks for your socials upon introduction. It then makes sense to put in the effort to try and build an online presence that others want to follow. But at what cost?

Romantic relationships are one type of relationship I see affected by Instagram. I grew up in a time where you heard but did not see what your significant other was doing when you were apart. If they didn’t tell you themselves, you only learned of their actions through the grapevine, rumour mill or a friend.

You did not have the chance to see in real time what was going on in your partner’s life. With Instagram that mystery has all but disappeared. You have access to see what they think, what they feel and what they like.

We have all heard romantic relationships are about compromise, but what does that look like online? I believe the accessibility to someone’s online life can and will affect the quality of your romantic relationship. If left unchecked, I believe stalking your partner’s socials can set the framework for controlling and manipulative behaviour which can lead to emotional abuse. It sounds far-fetched but translate what you’re doing online to in person, watching what someone does at any given time is not something anyone would be comfortable with.

There are levels of autonomy and respect that need to be given to your online life, but I understand in romantic relationships you are partly a representation of your partner so there is a need to compromise. The best way to compromise is through communication with your partner, and not controlling what they post or passive aggressively criticizing who they follow online.

Instagram is attempting to make their platform about sharing and not liking. However, the metric of a post is typically determined by how many likes it gets. My hope is the conversation about Instagram will now change in romantic relationships. Hopefully with the removal of likes it will reduce the anxiety of how many people see your partner’s posts. Ideally this will put you both more at ease with the idea of having an online life and help open yourself up to the world in a healthier way.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.