Instagram is also testing removing like counts. [0]

[0] https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/17/20697943/instagram-hide-p...

So much this. Instagram is, as far as I can see, the most psychologically unhealthy parts of social media, distilled. Why anyone would want to use it I don't know.

I mostly post stories, as do most people I follow. So there's simply no likes to be had, which works out pretty well. The occasional response/reaction is nice, but it's the exception not the norm, so there's no real expectation of it. Interaction is totally optional. I find it to be a much better system.