Instagram gives users chance to ‘start fresh’ and clear their recommended content

Instagram is testing a new tool that allows users to reset the recommended content they see in Explore, Reels, and their main Feed.

In just a few taps, people can clear the content they see as recommendations through the algorithm, and these can then be personalized again over time.

This shake-up is a major change in Instagram’s approach to recommended content. Previously, a combination of activities helped tailor what a person saw on their Explore page and feed.

The social media platform would then make relevant recommendations in places like Reels or the Explore page to help people discover new content they may be interested in.

Now Instagram users can review the accounts they are following and unfollow any that share content they no longer want to see as they can “start fresh.”

The update will “soon roll out globally,” with a number of ways users can make their preferences known.

This change comes after an announcement was made for teenagers in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia as they can now choose topics they want to see more of.

The company has explained there will be several new approaches that will help them assess the content people do and don’t want to be exposed to.

“For example, people can tell us they like the content recommended in their Explore page by tapping the three dots in the corner of the post and selecting ‘Interested,'” the company said in a news release.

The three dots will also throw up a ‘Not interested’ option or people can utilize the Hidden Words feature which will hide content with certain words or phrases in the caption.

While this new update will apply to all accounts, the platform is honing in on providing more safety measures for young people on the app.

“We also offer a range of tools to help teens shape their Instagram experience, beyond recommendations. For example, teens can switch to a Following Feed to see, in chronological order, content from accounts they follow, with the most recent post first.

“Alternatively, they can add accounts to a Favorites list so they see content from those accounts more often and higher in their Feed, and they can see a dedicated feed of just their favorites when they want to catch up on their posts quickly.”

The team has updated the Transparency Center too to share more information how teens can be supported on the app.

Featured Image: Via Meta blog

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