On Tuesday, Instagram said it was testing a feature that would allow users to change their recommendations. The app’s algorithm would be retrained about the content you like on your Explore page, home feed, and Reels tab if you reset your recommendations.
Users who feel that their content recommendations no longer reflect their interests are the target audience for this product. For example, you might no longer be interested in recipe videos, even though you used to enjoy them, yet all you see on your Explore and Reels pages can be that kind of stuff.
The new tool is comparable to one that TikTok introduced last year that let users clear their For You feeds.
Your Instagram suggestions will begin to re-personalize over time depending on the posts and accounts you engage with after you reset them. You can check your following list and unfollow accounts that share information you no longer find interesting if you decide to reset your suggestions.
Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, stated in a video that the new tool is only intended for times when you want a complete overhaul and should not be used often.
“I want to be clear, this is a big thing to do,” Mosseri said. “It’s going to make your Instagram much less interesting at first, because we’re going to treat you as if we know nothing about your interests and it will take some time to learn those again. So it’s not something I recommend doing all the time — but if you do end up in a place where you really don’t feel good about your experience, this gives you an out.”
Instagram users may now curate their suggestions with the addition of this new feature. On a post, users can indicate their feelings about the material and whether they want more or less of it by selecting “Interested” or “Not Interested.” They can also use the social network’s “Hidden Words” tool to conceal information that contains specific words or phrases.
Instagram states that the new feature to reset your recommendations is intended to be used when you want to start over from scratch, even if these tools are supposed to assist you in curating your suggestions on a daily basis.
Instagram says that the new function will be available “soon” worldwide.