I have a reel that went viral with 85,000 views but I'm getting a lot of negative/troll comments. Should I delete these comments or turn comments off?

Do not delete negative comments or turn off comments. For the algorithm, all comments are engagement—even negative ones. They help your content reach a wider audience. The more exposure you get, the more hate comments you’ll get, but those comments actually boost your reach. Delete only truly nasty or insulting comments, but leave the rest. Reply kindly to trolls (e.g., “Thanks for sharing your thoughts”) to show engagement. When you remove all comments, it looks suspicious—85,000 views with zero comments raises red flags. Let people engage, even if they’re fighting in the comments. This is similar to “rage bait” content that performs well algorithmically. Your job is to look professional while critics look bad.

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Asked by a photographer with a viral reel receiving negative comments · Answered by Juan and Mili · Office Hours · 2026-08-04