Back to the starting point. On Tuesday, November 19, the social platform Instagram announced the gradual deployment of a function that will allow its users to individually reset the algorithm that recommends personalized content. “With just a few clicks, you can delete recommended content in Explore, Reels, and Feed to start over”writes the platform, owned by the American group Meta, in a statement published on its site.
Currently in testing phase with a limited number of users, the functionality “will be rolled out globally in the coming weeks”. The goal is that everyone can be offered publications that really correspond to their wishes. Instagram specifies that these recommendations “It will start to personalize itself again over time, showing you new content based on the content and accounts you interact with”.
To use this function, the procedure will be simple. In the social network settings, users will have to go to a new tab called “Content Preferences”, where they will be offered to “reset suggested content”. Instagram warns that any reset of the algorithm is irreversible, but will not affect the accounts users follow or their advertising preferences.
A feature aimed at teenagers.
Before proceeding with this reset, the Meta platform will also offer its users the possibility to unsubscribe from certain accounts that are particularly prominent in their respective algorithmic feeds and to designate advertising topics to which they would like to be less exposed.
Overall, the feature is primarily aimed at teenagers who use Instagram. “We want to ensure that all users·Instagram users, especially teens, benefit from safe, positive, age-appropriate experiences and believe that the time they spend on Instagram is valuable »underlines the platform. Last September, Meta had already committed to imposing specific accounts on its users between the ages of 13 and 17 aimed at protecting them from exposure to inappropriate content and allowing them to choose favorite content categories.
Therefore, in recent months Instagram has focused on giving its users control over the nature of the content offered to them. In this it follows the lead of rival TikTok, which launched a feature last March that allows you to reset your personalized algorithmic feed. The Chinese platform also updated its content recommendation policy, promising to show teenagers fewer potentially dangerous posts, such as sexually suggestive videos, videos related to sadness or that promote extreme diets.
