Instagram is testing a feature that allows users to reset their recommendations, the company announced Tuesday. When you reset recommendations, you start over and retrain the app's algorithms about the content you enjoy on your Explore page, home feed, and Reels tab.
This feature is aimed at users who feel that content recommendations are no longer serving their interests. For example, if you used to like recipe videos but are no longer interested, that type of content might be the only one you'll see on your Reels or Explorer pages.
This new addition is similar to a feature TikTok introduced last year that allowed users to reset their For You feed.
When you reset Instagram recommendations, content recommendations will start becoming personalized again over time based on the posts and accounts you interact with. If you choose to reset your recommendations, you'll have the option to review your following list and unfollow accounts that are sharing content you're no longer interested in.
Image credit: Instagram
Instagram head Adam Mosseri said in a video on Instagram that the new feature is only designed for those who want a complete overhaul and is not meant to be used frequently.
“Let me be clear: this is what needs to be done,” Mosseri said. “Your Instagram will be a lot less interesting at first, because we'll be treating you like we don't know anything about your interests, and it will take time to learn it again.” So it's not something I recommend doing all the time, but if you find yourself in a situation where you're not really happy with your experience, this is an out.
This new feature joins Instagram's current tools that allow users to curate recommendations. Users can select “interested” or “not interested” in posts to tell us how they feel about the content and whether they want more or less of it. You can also use the social network's “hidden words” feature to hide content that contains certain words or phrases.
Instagram says these tools are designed to help you curate your daily recommendations, but the new option to reset recommendations is meant to be used when you want to start over completely.
Instagram says the new feature will be rolling out globally “soon.”