Earlier this month, Instagram announced that it would slowly be removing the likes feature from user's profiles. This doesn't mean, however, that one can't engage with a page. The number of likes will simply be inaccessible to anyone except the profile's owner. The decision, which the app claims is to make the experience more enjoyable and more conducive to people's mental health, has come with quite a bit of pushback, especially from paid influencers.
But one Australian content creator in particular is taking the update extra hard. In a recent video, Melbourne-based model Mikaela Testa had a public breakdown about the change, and boy, did she say a handful.
Mikaela Testa is 19-year-old influencer based in Melbourne, Australia.
The often bikini-clad Instagram model boasts two different Instagram pages totaling at a little more than 55,000 followers. On her feed she often chronicles her beach days with her friends, nights out on the town, and snaps selfies with highlighter that could probably stop traffic. And while you more than likely won't catch any brand partnerships on her page, she claims that her Instagram accounts are her primary source of income.
But after Instagram removed the likes feature in Australia (other countries are reportedly to follow soon), she wrote a strongly worded rant in a now-deleted post to Facebook.
She started by emphasizing that for many, Instagram is a full-time career and its liking feature is an integral part of money making.
“Regardless of what you may think, Instagram is a REAL job and those in the industry have worked hard to get where they’re at,” she began, clearly including herself in that group of people.
She explained that Instagram's removal of the feature is causing her personal distress.
“It’s people that aren’t even in the industry that think it’s a [redacted] joke. It’s not, it’s real damage out here. I’ve put my blood, sweat and tears into this for it to be ripped away, it’s not just me suffering too, it’s every brand and business I know," she wrote.
She also called Instagram out for lying about the explanation for the decision.
She explained that while the app has claimed that the choice comes from wanting to make the experience more enjoyable to the user, Testa wasn't buying it.
“Instagram isn’t even doing this for mental health they’re just doing it so they can control all engagement so more businesses run their adverts through Instagram essentially giving them more $, they don’t care about your feelings,” she noted.
Good point.
Then came a tearful video.
On her Instagram page, she publicly broke down about situation.
"I have the ugliest crying face, say what you want this is raw content, that’s what this account is for, leaving social media for the first time ever. Not sure when i’ll be back but i’m mentally screwed, this is the real me & im [redacted] human. Words hurt, see you soon," she wrote about the emotional 60-second clip.
With tears rolling down her face, she explained that she needed to disconnect from social media for the sake of her mental health.
“I'll have a really big break from social media for a while because it is really just … I know mentally Instagram for me is a problem and I can’t even accept that so I am just going to leave for maybe a couple of weeks so I can get back on track," she declared, making it clear to viewers that the recent social media happenings had begun to take its toll.
However the break didn't last long, and less than 24 hours later she was posting again.
With captions that had people confused. "Feel like pure [redacted], just want my likes back," she said alongside a photo of her thong-clad backside at the beach. Needless to say, people didn't like what she wrote.
"They’re other bigger problems happening in the world, for example how climate change is happening right now! and your concerned about likes," someone responded.
"You feel like [redacted] because of likes? Hmm I think you need to go on a self love journey girl if you are do dependent on likes!! Wowie," another said.
However, even after publicly proclaiming that the likes are what have taken her over the edge, she's now backtracking.
“Since there are a few rude people misinterpreting this video, this has nothing to do with insta removing likes that is the dumbest thing I’ve heard, this has everything to do with the disgusting hurtful comments and messages I’ve received over the past week and I just need a break,” she's since said on Facebook.
And while her reaction seems dramatic by most standards, it's yet another reminder that this generation may be far too emotionally and mentally invested in social media platforms. Thoughts?
