Instagram is launching a new feature that will allow users to reset their content recommendations across Feeds, Reels, and Explore pages. This update will enable the app to forget past interactions and preferences, providing a fresh start for the recommendation algorithm.
How the New Feature Works
The new “reset” function, which is part of Instagram’s broader safety and privacy enhancements, will enable users to refresh the app’s suggestions based on their most recent interests and interactions. Instagram head Adam Mosseri explained in a video announcement that the reset will make the app “much less interesting at first,” as the algorithm will no longer remember users’ past preferences.
The feature, accessible through the content preferences section in Instagram settings, will not affect users’ personal data or advertising preferences. It allows the app to relearn content preferences based on interactions with posts and accounts, offering a more personalized experience over time.
Privacy Enhancements and Teen Safety
In addition to the reset feature, Meta (Instagram’s parent company) has introduced new privacy settings for teen accounts. These controls allow younger users to choose interests such as books, cooking, or sports, helping tailor their content suggestions and ensuring they see age-appropriate content.
Meta emphasized that the reset function, while available to all users, is particularly aimed at creating a safer, more positive experience for teenagers on the platform. The update is part of Instagram’s broader strategy to enhance safety, particularly as the app competes with TikTok by suggesting content from unfamiliar accounts.
The reset feature complements other tools, such as the “Interested” and “Not Interested” options, and the “Hidden Words” feature for filtering terms. However, unlike these daily adjustments, the reset offers a complete refresh of the recommendation system.
Meta is rolling out the feature globally after it has been tested, giving users more control over their Instagram experience, especially as the platform faces increasing scrutiny from regulators.