For more than often, social media users stumble upon the wrong Instagram influencers or accounts.
Due to the amount of challenge that swirl on social media, the most concerning thing is that, influencers can also mislead, and promote dangerous activities, disordered eating or conspiracy theories. When this happen, algorithm-driven suggestions from social media can quickly spiral out of control.
After all, on social media, the rabbit hole can be pretty deep.
On Instagram, the tech titan Meta is addressing this issue with a feature that allows users to reset their recommended content.
The tool, initially in testing, can be accessed through the Content Preferences menu.
The feature allows users to quickly clear out content recommendations for Explore, Reels, and Feed with just three clicks.
During the reset process, users will also be prompted to review and unfollow accounts they no longer want to see.
Knowing that anyone can be at risk of being pulled into the void of its algorithms, this new option isn’t just for teens—it’s available to everyone.
After all, a feed clogged with irrelevant or uninspiring suggestions is a universal frustration.
In a post on its website, Meta said that:
"That’s why we’ve started testing the ability for everyone on Instagram – including teens – to reset their recommendations. In just a few taps, you’ll be able to clear your recommended content across Explore, Reels and Feed and start fresh."
Instagram already offers ways to tailor recommendations, such as marking posts as “interested” or “not interested” and hiding content based on certain words or phrases.
In addition to this reset feature, Instagram has introduced other tools to prioritize teen safety and well-being.
Back in September, the platform launched restrictive "Teen Accounts" for users under 16, and more recently, it unveiled tools to combat financial sextortion, a crime that disproportionately affects teens.
These updates come as Instagram’s parent company, Meta, faces legal challenges regarding its impact on young users. Lawsuits allege that Meta and other platforms exploit children and adolescents by creating addictive, algorithm-driven feeds.
Meta denies the claims but continues to introduce features aimed at improving user experience and safety.