Instagram now lets you reset your entire feed; here's how

Instagram has announced a new feature that allows users, including teens, to reset their content recommendations across the platform.

This test feature aims to offer more control over the content users see in their Explore page, Reels, and Feed.

Users can start fresh by clearing their previous recommendations and curating new content based on their evolving interests.

Instagram’s new feature enables users to reset the content they see on the Explore page, Reels, and Feed.

By simply tapping a few buttons, users can clear their recommended content and allow the platform to show fresh suggestions based on their interactions with posts, accounts, and content types.

After resetting, the recommendations will gradually personalise again, showing new content based on recent activity. Instagram’s aim is to help users tailor their feed to reflect their changing preferences over time.

How the reset feature works

The reset process gives users more control over the type of content they see. When users reset their recommendations, they also have the option to review their following list. If they no longer wish to see content from certain accounts, they can easily unfollow them, further shaping the content they are exposed to.

Instagram’s feature provides a way for users to start fresh, but also to retain control over the long-term evolution of their feed. As users continue interacting with new content, the platform will continue to personalise suggestions based on these newer engagements.

Photo: Meta

Safety and age-appropriateness for teens

The platform has been focusing on improving the experience for teens by giving them more tools to manage the content they engage with. This includes features such as the ability to switch to a Following Feed, where posts appear in chronological order, and the option to add accounts to a Favorites list, ensuring content from those accounts appears more frequently and higher up in the Feed.

Along with empowering users to shape their Instagram experience, Instagram is continuing its efforts to provide a safe and age-appropriate environment for teens. The platform has established stricter guidelines for what content is visible to younger users. Mature or sensitive content that may not be suitable for teens is either removed or hidden from their view, even if the content comes from accounts they follow.

Instagram also works to avoid recommending this type of content to younger audiences, ensuring that teens are shielded from potentially harmful material. To support this initiative, Instagram has added a new page to its Transparency Centre, outlining the platform’s steps to prevent inappropriate content from reaching teens.

In addition to the reset feature, Instagram is offering more tools to help teens and their families manage the platform. Instagram has partnered with professional organisers Joanna and Clea from The Home Edit to share tips on how both parents and teens can “organise” their Instagram experience. Just as one would tidy up their home, they encourage regular reviews of the accounts users follow to ensure they are still relevant and enjoyable.

Meta’s commitment to safety and transparency

Meta also reiterated its commitment to providing a safe environment for younger users. The company’s new feature is part of a broader initiative to help users, especially teens, feel comfortable and confident in the content they engage with. In addition to removing or hiding inappropriate content, Meta aims to provide teens with the tools to ensure they are exposed to content that is both relevant and safe.

The feature is also seen as part of Instagram’s ongoing transparency efforts. By enabling users to reset their recommendations, Meta hopes to foster a more personalised experience that remains responsive to user preferences.