Instagram Will Let Users Start Their Recommendations Over From Scratch

Instagram users who aren’t happy with the content they’re being shown can now manually hit the reset button on the algorithm to start over from scratch. On Tuesday, an Instagram blog post outlined how the feature will work. Users will be able to go to the content preferences section of Instagram’s settings menu to activate the reset suggested content function. Once the feature is activated, the algorithm forgets everything it knows about you and lets you start over. 

Instagram also recommends looking over the people you follow, along with your ad topics, to help prevent the algorithm from taking you back to the same place you were trying to escape.

“Your recommendations will start to personalize again over time, showing new content based on the content and accounts you interact with,” Instagram said in the blog post. “When resetting, you’ll also have the option to review the accounts you’re following and unfollow any that share content you no longer want to see.”

In addition to the algorithm reset, Instagram parent company Meta posted a new page in its Transparency Center that describes how Instagram and Facebook keep teens from seeing inappropriate content. Meta says it removes images and videos that break its rules, and hides additional content from teens if it’s deemed inappropriate. Finally, there are types of content that Instagram doesn’t recommend to anybody even if it doesn’t break the rules, meaning you have to seek it out intentionally. 

The ability to reset the algorithm is primarily aimed at helping teens stop seeing inappropriate content. However, Instagram also says that longtime users may appreciate the feature, especially if their interests have changed or they aren’t happy with the site’s recommendations.

Protecting teenagers

Resetting the algorithm is just the latest Instagram move meant to protect teens from seeing inappropriate content. Changes began with the rollout of teen accounts on Instagram, which have an increased set of protections and restrictions differing from adult accounts. Since then, Instagram has been tweaking and tuning the feature, including adding more safety tools to prevent sextortion, along with protections to keep adults out of a teen’s direct messages.

For the most part, parents have welcomed these changes, as they allow parents to better monitor their children while the kids use social media. Meta is also working on using AI to detect when people lie about their age, so they can be migrated to the proper account type.

These changes come during a year when other programs and sites are also moving to increase teen protections. Roblox has changed its platform several times to block certain features and games from its younger players, while Fortnite is giving parents more control over time limits. Governments are stepping in. Australia, for instance, is working on a social media ban that applies to all kids under 16.