Instagram lets users start their recommendations from scratch

Instagram users who are unhappy with the content they see can now manually hit the algorithm reset button to start all over again. Tuesday became one Instagram blog post explained how the function will work. Users can go to the Content Preferences section of Instagram’s settings menu to activate the suggested content reset feature. Once the feature is activated, the algorithm will forget everything it knows about you and you can start over.

Instagram also recommends that you review the people you follow along with your ad topics to prevent the algorithm from taking you back to the same place you tried to escape from.

“Your recommendations will 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 also have the option to view the accounts you follow and unfollow accounts that share content you no longer want to see.”

In addition to the algorithm reset, Instagram parent company Meta has posted a new page in the Transparency Center that details how Instagram and Facebook keep teens from seeing inappropriate content. Meta says it removes images and videos that break the rules, and hides additional content from teens if it’s deemed inappropriate. Finally, there are types of content that Instagram doesn’t recommend to anyone, even if it doesn’t break the rules, which means you have to deliberately search for it.

The ability to reset the algorithm is primarily intended to help teens stop seeing inappropriate content. However, Instagram also says that long-time users may appreciate the feature, especially if their interests have changed or if they’re unhappy with the site’s recommendations.

Protecting teenagers

Resetting the algorithm is just the latest move from Instagram aimed at protecting teens from seeing inappropriate content. The changes started with the rollout of teen accounts on Instagram, which have a more extensive set of protections and restrictions that differ from adult accounts. Since then, Instagram has tweaked and refined the feature, including adding more safety tools to prevent sextortion, along with protections to keep adults out of teens’ direct messages.

For the most part, parents have welcomed these changes because they allow parents to keep a closer eye on their children while the kids are using social media. Meta is also working on using AI to detect when people lie about their ageso they can be migrated to the correct account type.

These changes come in a year when other programs and sites are also taking action to increase protections for teens. Roblox has changed its platform several times to block certain features and games for its younger players, while Fortnite has giving parents more control over time limits. Governments intervene. For example, Australia is working on a social media ban that will apply to all children under the age of 16.