Instagram is testing a new feature that’s allowing users to reset their algorithm. Meta, Instagram’s parent company, said the update was launched specifically with the safety of teens in mind.
“We want to make sure everyone on Instagram, especially teens, has safe, positive, age-appropriate experiences and feels the time they’re spending on Instagram is valuable,” a company blog post Tuesday, Nov. 19, said.
This comes as multiple studies have shown the harmful effects social media can have on teens. That includes research by the Journal of the American Medical Association that found teens who spend more than three hours a day on those platforms can double their risk of depression and anxiety.
Earlier this year, the U.S. surgeon general called on Congress to require warning labels on social media similar to those on cigarette packaging.
Instagram said the new feature will allow users to be able to clear the recommended content across their explore, reels and feed tabs with a manual reset.
The app will then start suggesting more personalized topics that may be different from what users usually see.
It will also help users improve the algorithm recommendations by offering an “interested” and “not interested” feature.
While the algorithm reset is only in a testing phase now, Instagram plans to roll it out globally.
It’s not clear exactly when the company will implement the feature.
