From today onwards, Aussie Instagram users are not going to be able to see how many likes other posts receive, and frankly, we think this is a great move.

The new rules are meant to remove people's fear they will seem unpopular if they don't receive as many likes as they think they should, and it certainly seems like a step in the right direction.

When users upload a photo they will, of course, still be able to see how many likes they get - but no-one else will know.

The changes are compulsory for all account holders in Australia. The same rule is also in place in Canada, Japan, Ireland, Italy, Brazil, and New Zealand - but not yet in the UK or US.

Instagram Australia's Director of Policy Mia Garlick said, "We want Instagram to be a place where people feel comfortable expressing themselves. We hope this test will remove the pressure of how many likes a post will receive, so you can focus on sharing the things you love."

"We are now rolling the test out to Australia so we can learn more about how this can benefit people's experiences on Instagram, and whether this change can help people focus less on likes and more on telling their story."

You'll no longer see the number of 'likes' on Instagram posts in your feed. (iStock)

While many still believe that the 'likes race' will still be run behind the scenes, and that influencers and those who build their businesses around Instagram will still be using the likes metrics to bolster their profile, the average Joe will no longer need to worry about seemingly 'unpopular' for any number of likes they think is not enough.

We at 9Honey love any measure put in place to curb online anxiety, so we throw our support behind it!