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Instagram has announced a new feature that allows users to manually reset the platform’s recommendation algorithm.
What’s the deal: In an announcement, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri revealed a new feature that allows users to manually reset the platform’s recommendation algorithm, providing a “fresh start” for their Explore, Reels, and Feed pages. The feature enables users to clear all recommended content and review their followed accounts to decide whether to continue following them or not. Once the reset is complete, Instagram’s algorithm will gradually repersonalize recommendations based on the user’s new interactions.
Protecting teens: In addition to the new recommendation reset feature, Instagram has introduced a series of teen-focused safety initiatives aimed at ensuring a safer and more age-appropriate experience for younger users. These efforts include defaulting accounts for users under 18 to private, requiring teens to manually approve new followers, and limiting who can send them messages, tags, or mentions. Teens can also use features like a chronological “following feed” to view content only from accounts they follow and the “Close Friends” option to control who sees their stories.
In a statement, the company said, “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. 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.”
Digging deeper: This all comes as Instagram has faced intense scrutiny over the past year for its role in negatively impacting mental health, particularly among teenagers. Critics have pointed to the platform’s algorithms that prioritize engagement at the expense of user well-being, with studies linking Instagram use to increased anxiety, depression, and body image concerns. Safety advocates have also raised alarms about teens being exposed to inappropriate or harmful content, prompting calls for stricter oversight.
Additionally, Meta, Instagram’s parent company, is battling lawsuits accusing the platform of deliberately designing features to maximize screen time, often to the detriment of young users’ mental and emotional health.
