Instagram users will soon have the option to manually reset the recommendation algorithm that curates their feed content. The platform, owned by Meta Platforms, announced in a blog post on Tuesday that the new function will help teenagers find more appropriate content.
New Feature Aims to Offer More Control Over Instagram Experience
The new reset function gives users more control over the content recommended to them on Instagram. With this upgrade, users can delete their suggestions from the Explore, Reels, and Feed areas, thereby offering them a fresh start on the platform. While in this mode, they can also review and modify their “following” list by unfollowing accounts as needed.
Teen-Focused Update: Prioritising Age-Appropriate Content
Instagram is also focusing on enhancing the experience for younger users, in addition to offering all users greater power. The platform’s goal is to provide teens with a safer, more age-appropriate browsing experience. “We want to make sure everyone on Instagram — especially teens — has safe, positive, age-appropriate experiences and feels the time they’re spending on Instagram is valuable,” the company said in a blog post on Tuesday. “We want to give teens new ways to shape their Instagram experience, so it can continue to reflect their passions and interests as they evolve.” This function is part of Instagram’s larger endeavour to provide a safe online environment for young kids, where the information they see is appropriate for their developmental stages.
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How the Reset Feature Works: A Step-by-Step Guide
Users will be able to reset their recommendations in a few easy steps. Once activated, Instagram will remove all existing recommendations and allow users to reset their feeds. Moreover, users can examine and modify their ‘following list’, which allows them to unfollow accounts that no longer match their interests or preferences. After resetting, Instagram’s algorithm will resume personalising content depending on the accounts and type of content that users interact with in the future.
Enhanced User Safety: New Tools to Limit Sensitive Content
Instagram is also upholding its commitment to user safety, particularly among younger users. Along with the reset function, Meta has taken additional steps to block sensitive content for teens. These updates provide more sophisticated options for limiting harmful or improper content display. Earlier this year, Instagram added features that automatically put teen accounts in private mode and impose stricter content filters and limits. These efforts aim to provide a more secure environment for younger users while also giving them more choice over what they see and interact with.
Meta’s Ongoing Commitment to Improving User Experience
Safety activists and mental health specialists have repeatedly criticised Meta, claiming that the network harms younger users. Instagram is reacting to these concerns by offering teens more control over their feeds, including the reset feature and other safety safeguards. The goal is to make Instagram a place where young users can find content that is pleasant, entertaining, and relevant to their interests while limiting exposure to possibly harmful content.
While users already have some control over their recommendations by marking content as “interested” or “not interested,” many netizens have been requesting the return of the original algorithm, which was highly selective, only showing posts from those you followed in chronological order. As netizens hope for a renewal, the new reset option is now in testing and is likely to be released internationally soon.
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