If you feel frustrated by what you see on Instagram or who your content is shown to, this blog is for you. I explain the new button Instagram has launched to reset your Instagram algorithm and the other ways you can gently nudge the algorithm in your favour.
There is never a week that goes past when I don't hear someone moaning about the Instagram algorithm! And I agree that it seems a bit mad that there are 2 billion active users on the app every month, and boom, you post something and Instagram somehow decides the 200 people (or 200K people!) to show it to! More than that, 95 million photos and videos are posted every day, and you see just a tiny fraction of them when you log on.
So, how is this decided and can you change it? Can you reset your Instagram algorithm? Maybe you've ended up on the wrong side of the app and you want to see more content that brings you joy, or you want your content to get served to new people, or more specifically, your people. In this blog, I explain all, including Instagram's shiny new reset button! Ok, let's get stuck in.
Firstly, what is the Instagram algorithm?
Well, it's actually not just one algorithm. Instagram has multiple algorithms, which are a set of clever rules that decide what you see on the app and who your content is shown to.
Think of the algorithms a bit like Instagram's brain. They are there to personalise everyone's experience on the app and ultimately show people what Instagram thinks they want to see to keep them on the platform for longer.
Every single time you interact with content, you send signals that shape your algorithm. If you watch a Reel until the end, you like something, save it, comment, share, watch someone's stories, DM them, or interact in any way, you are shaping what Instagram shows you.
That's why you can end up with a feed filled with cat videos if you watch one too many Reels (guilty!), and why my feed looks wildly different to my husband's (who knew there was that much football content on the app)!
At this point, it's important to note that the algorithms that decide what content to show to you are different to the algorithms that decide who your content should be shown to.
That means, my Instagram content, which I hope will reach small business owners, isn't suddenly going to be shown to cat lovers because I've gone down a video rabbit hole of kittens playing with string for an hour (thank goodness!).
Resetting what content is shown to you on Instagram
Instagram uses something called 'recommended reach' to show you content you might be interested in, as well as content from people you follow.
Your home feed is predominantly filled with posts from people you follow, plus a few recommended posts, but the Explore and Reels feeds are predominantly filled with recommended content.
You might love what you see or desperately want to reset it. Going back to my cat example, say I'd built up a heavy amount of cat-recommended content, and my husband suddenly decided it was a flat no for me ever getting a cat, I might want to stop seeing that content. (That would be divorce territory in my opinion, but I digress!)
But all jokes aside, there might be many valid reasons why you'd like a fresh start, such as protecting your mental health if you end up on totally the wrong side of the app or your interests have changed. Instagram and Meta interestingly published their button to help you reset your Instagram algorithm back in November 2024 as part of their new 'Teen Accounts' changes and mission to 'make sure everyone on Instagram has a safe and positive experience'. They want you to enjoy what you are seeing on the app; your recommended content should uplift and inspire you!
So, in just a few taps, you can clear your current recommended content across your home feed, explore and Reels and start afresh. So, how do you do it?
How to reset your Instagram algorithm in a few clicks
Want to change what you see? Here's how to reset your recommended content on Instagram:
- Go to your profile and tap three-bar 'more options' menu in the top right-hand corner of the screen
- Scroll down to the 'What you see' section and click on 'Content preferences.'
- Tap on the 'Reset suggested content' option at the bottom
- Read the conditions and click 'Next'
- Tap 'Reset suggested content' to confirm you want a reset
This will wipe your Instagram algorithm so you can start afresh! It won't change who you follow, but it does give you the option to review this on the last step before you confirm the reset.
The content you see will then be TOTALLY random, and will personalise over time based on what you interact with. You will likely discover a whole side of Instagram you didn't know existed!
Warning: you can't undo until this! So make sure you are entirely certain before you press that button!
What if I don't want a full reset, though?
The idea of pressing the reset button might seem TOO MUCH, and fair enough. You can still change what Instagram shows to you with gentler nudges. Here's how:
1. Use the 'Not interested' feature. On every recommended post or Reel in your home feed, Explore or Reels feed, you can press this button to tell the algorithm you want to see less of that sort of content. To find it, just click on the three dots in the top right-hand corner of the post or Reel (or bottom right on the Reels feed).
With my cat example, I could do that on any cat video I see, and the algorithm would quickly stop showing me them (boo!).
2. Use the 'Interested' feature. You can also use the search bar on the Explore page to search for what you want to see more of, then follow the same steps to find the Interested button. This is a great way to fill your feed with new types of inspiring content!
3. Use the Hidden Words feature. Back in the settings menu I mentioned above, you can click on 'Specific words and phrases' to hide posts that include certain words or phrases that you don't want to see. I could put 'cat' or 'kitten' in here and it would hide me every post that mentions those words in the caption or hashtags.
4. Curate your own feed! Not enough people use this feature, but you can create a feed JUST filled with accounts you love. You can add the best accounts you follow to your Favourites list by clicking on any post of theirs and pressing the 'Add to Favourites' star. Then, you can filter your feed to just see posts from those accounts in chronological order by tapping the Instagram logo on your home screen and 'Favourites'.
SO, that's how to reset your Instagram algorithm and nudge it back towards what you want to see more of and make your time on the app a joy!
But, how do you reset who YOUR content is shown to? Ok, well, that's an entirely different matter, but it is possible. Let me explain more.
Who your content is shown to on Instagram
In the same way that the algorithms use millions of interactions from you to shape what is shown to you, the algorithms also use every bit of content you post, and crucially, the people that interact with it, to decide who to show your content to.
Two factors are hugely important
- The SEO of your content and keywords you use (if you don't know how Instagram SEO works, see the SEO module in The Secrets to Instagram Growth)
- The engagement your content gets.
Instagram measures how much engagement you get to help the algorithms decide whether to push your content wider, especially the watch-time of your Reels, likes, shares, comments, and saves.
If you have a low reach, Instagram has decided not to push your content out because it is not engaging enough.
This can be hugely disheartening, I know. And because the number of people your content is shown to is based on your average past engagement, it can be hard to break out of this loop!
How to reset who your content is shown to on Instagram
Although there is no reset button to change who your content is shown to, you can break out of a low reach loop by doing one thing: posting high engagement content.
If you post several pieces of high-engagement content targeted at your dream audience, Instagram will increase your reach to those people and completely change the traction of your account.
Engagement is magic! The power to reset your reach is in your hands. Not sure where to start?
This is why I built the free Reset with Reels Challenge. One week, one high-engagement Reel a day, specifically designed to help you reset your algorithm and reach your people! Designed for small businesses and creators, every day includes a high-reach Reel with suggested hooks and tips from me.
I'm running the Reset with Reels Challenge live Monday 19th - Sunday 25th May if you want to join us! You can also grab the challenge guide and use it at any time. Get the Reset With Reels Guide here.
So, that's the three ways to reset your Instagram algorithm! If you fancy starting afresh on the app, now you know how. Might you give these a go? Let me know and any questions in the comments!
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