An Australian Instagram influencer has had a meltdown over the photosharing app's alleged decision to remove likes from posts.

Despite having a fairly modest following of less than 50,000, Mikaela Testa, 19, went into a Facebook rant about how the social network's change has affected the lives of those who use professionally.

She claims that for every 1,000 likes she receives, she can make up to A$1,000 ($698.46).

However, since the app changed its policy, Testa has noticed a reduction in the amount of engagement her posts receive.

Credit: 755

In a now-deleted Facebook post, the 19-year-old explained how taking selfies for a living was a real job:

"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.

It's people that aren't even in the industry that think it's a f***ing 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."

Under the new change - while users are able to see how many likes their posts get - other people cannot see the popularity of any one post. This change was made in a bid to reduce the pressure users felt to have popular posts.

Credit: 1741

After venting her frustration at the change in the photo-sharing app's algorithm, the influencer decided to take a "really big break from social media".

A day later, she was back online sharing selfies.

An Australian Instagram influencer has had a meltdown over the photosharing app's alleged decision to remove likes from posts.

Despite having a fairly modest following of less than 50,000, Mikaela Testa, 19, went into a Facebook rant about how the social network's change has affected the lives of those who use professionally.

She claims that for every 1,000 likes she receives, she can make up to A$1,000 ($698.46).

However, since the app changed its policy, Testa has noticed a reduction in the amount of engagement her posts receive.

Credit: 755

In a now-deleted Facebook post, the 19-year-old explained how taking selfies for a living was a real job:

"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.

It's people that aren't even in the industry that think it's a f***ing 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."

Under the new change - while users are able to see how many likes their posts get - other people cannot see the popularity of any one post. This change was made in a bid to reduce the pressure users felt to have popular posts.

Credit: 1741

After venting her frustration at the change in the photo-sharing app's algorithm, the influencer decided to take a "really big break from social media".

A day later, she was back online sharing selfies.