Reset of the recommendation algorithm
The change, which is currently in the testing phase, will soon be widely implemented. Its creators explain that thanks to this possibility Instagram users will gain more control over content, and what appears on their accounts will be more tailored to their needs and interests.
Earlier this year, Instagram announced the launch new privacy control mechanisms. They allow the user to select topics such as books, travel, cooking or sports that they want to see more often in their application. Instagram already allows users to determine whether they are interested in the videos they are shown. The application also takes into account other signals, such as likes or sharing of a given post.
Resetting the recommendation algorithm will give users the ability to review the accounts they follow in case they no longer want to follow someone. “We want to assure everyone on Instagram – especially teens – that they are having a safe, positive and age-appropriate experience and that they find value in the time they spend on Instagram,” Meta wrote in a blog post on Tuesday. “We want to give teens new ways to shape their Instagram experiences that express their passions and interests as they evolve over time,” it added.
More entertainment, less politics
Meta recommends that Instagram include more entertainment-related content while moving away from news and politics. In this way, the company wants to extend the time users spend browsing the application, and avoid confrontational entries. The platform has also increased the amount of content that comes from strangers or people who are not yet followed – similar to what TikTok does.
