Instagram’s recommendations don’t always hit the target. Sometimes the social media site pushes posts to your feed that reflect something you’ve long since lost interest in. Other times, it just guesses wrong. Now Instagram is in the process of offering a “reset” button to give your feed a fresh start.
Meta says it’s testing a way for people to get a clean slate in their Explore, Reels, and Feed. The feature is still being tested, but the company said it “will soon roll out globally”.
Resetting will also allow users to review the accounts they are following and unfollow any that share content they no longer want to see. The new tool will not delete your data from the app or change how the company serves ads.
Resetting suggestions on your feed is something most users might appreciate, but Meta is saying this change is a way to make the app safer for teen users.
“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 wrote in a blog post. “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.”
Instagram has been on the defensive about how it handles young users since a whistleblower leaked internal documents suggesting Facebook knowingly prioritized profit over well-being and safety. The controversy led to a congressional testimony and spurred debate about what could be done to protect minors online. In October 2023, more than 30 US states filed a lawsuit against Meta alleging harmful youth marketing.
Two months ago, the company unveiled a new type of Instagram account for anyone under 16, with significantly more parental supervision tools. Current Instagram users who fall in the age range were automatically placed into the teen accounts as well.
