7 Effective Methods to Transform Your Instagram Feed

Instagram has steadily become one of the leading image-sharing platforms globally. Users can share photos, videos, shorts, and reels while benefiting from an advanced algorithm tailored for engagement.

Recently, Instagram has reintroduced features that allow users to have greater control over their feeds. This functionality was previously available but removed in 2016, so let’s explore how it can help customize your Instagram home feed.

How is the Instagram feed curated?

Your Instagram feed is currently curated based on your activity on the platform. The algorithm considers various factors, including your likes, dislikes, followed accounts, mutual connections, the amount of time you spend on posts, and more. This extensive curation helps Instagram show you tailored content while also displaying relevant ads.

Despite its advantages, automatic curation raises privacy concerns. A significant drawback is the inability to view posts in chronological order or specifically from selected users, but fortunately, changes are underway to address this.

Can you change your Instagram feed?

Yes, you can modify your home feed on Instagram. This new feature was announced by Instagram’s head on Twitter through a video outlining the options. Currently, the ability to customize your feed is in beta and available to a limited user base.

However, Instagram intends to roll this out gradually over the coming months, although no specific release date has been confirmed.

How to change your Instagram feed in 7 Ways

You can leverage the latest features along with existing ones to create a personalized Instagram home feed. Below are several options to suit different needs.

1. Select “Following”

To view posts from accounts you follow in chronological order, simply tap the drop-down arrow in the top left corner of your screen and select ‘Following’.

2. Sort posts from special people you follow

Creating a favorites list is necessary to implement this option. If you haven’t marked users as favorites yet, visit their profile and mark them. A Pin icon will then appear beside their profile picture. Posts from these favorite accounts will be similarly marked.

After establishing your favorites list, navigate to your home page, tap the drop-down menu, and select ‘Favorites’. Your feed will be organized to display only posts from your favorites in chronological order.

3. Remove irrelevant posts by unfollowing users

If you’re looking to streamline your feed further, consider unfollowing accounts that no longer interest you. It’s common to follow various accounts only to forget about them later. Cleaning your following list will enhance your feed and ensure you see content that truly matters to you.

4. Improve Instagram suggestions by providing feedback

Providing feedback while using your default home feed can assist the algorithm in curating better content for you. Reporting, unfollowing, or hiding posts sends signals to the AI, influencing future content delivery.

Regularly using these features will help train Instagram’s AI to deliver more relevant content that aligns with your interests.

To give feedback on a particular post, tap the ‘3-dot’ menu icon and choose your desired action.

Make sure to accurately report the post’s context. If you would like to see less of certain types of posts, opt for ‘Hide’.

You can also check ‘Why you’re seeing this post’ for more insights into the AI’s reasoning.

5. Turn on notifications for important accounts

To stay updated with essential accounts, activate notifications for them. This way, you won’t miss any new posts or stories that interest you. Here’s how:

Open Instagram and go to the profile in question. Tap the bell icon in the upper right corner.

Choose the notifications you wish to receive.

• Posts: Get notified each time the account shares a new post.
• Stories: Receive notifications whenever a new story is posted.
• Videos: Be alerted for new video uploads.
• Reels: Get notified when new Reels go live.
• Goes live: Manage notifications for Instagram Live sessions.

Now, you’re set to receive notifications from important accounts as new content is published.

6. Reset your explore feed

You can also clear and customize your Explore feed on Instagram. Here’s how to reset your Explore page to receive new suggestions:

6.1 Reset explore page

Open the Instagram app and tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner. Then tap the menu icon to select ‘Settings’.

Next, tap ‘Security’ followed by ‘Search history’.

Select ‘Clear all’ to delete your previous search history, or individually remove searches by tapping the ‘X’ next to each term.

Close and reopen the app to see a refreshed Explore page.

6.2 Curate explore page

If you prefer to not clear your search history entirely, you can curate your Explore page by removing specific searches and indicating disinterest in certain posts.

Open your profile, navigate to ‘Security’, and select ‘Search history’ as detailed before. Remove unwanted searches with the ‘X’ next to them.

Then, find a post that doesn’t resonate with you in the Explore page, tap on it, and select ‘Not interested’ using the 3-dot menu.

This will prompt the algorithm to refine what you see based on your preferences.

7. Manage Story and Reel notifications

Notifications help you keep track of your feed, but they can become overwhelming if you’re following many active accounts. Manage notifications by activating them for important users or muting less relevant ones.

7.1 Turn on Notifications

Visit the profile of the account to receive notifications and tap on the bell icon in the top right corner.

Select the notifications you want to enable for the selected user.

• Posts
• Stories
• Videos
• Reels
• Live Videos

With notifications turned on, you’ll stay informed about new posts promptly.

7.2 Mute/Turn off notifications

To turn off notifications, tap the toggle again. Additionally, you can mute accounts to avoid seeing their posts.

To mute an account, visit their profile, tap ‘Following’, and then select ‘Mute’.

Choose which content to mute – either posts or stories.

After making your selection, you can close and reopen the app to see the changes in effect.

FAQs

Instagram frequently updates its UI and renames elements, often causing confusion. Here are some commonly asked questions that may help clarify these changes for you.

How to remove favorites from Instagram?

To remove favorites, simply visit the profile and use the option at the top to unfavorite them, removing them from your favorites list.

When will I get the new sorting feature of Instagram?

As of now, there isn’t a confirmed date for the rollout, but user feedback suggests that it may be available in the coming months. The feature doesn’t appear to be region-specific either.

Can you restrict someone without blocking them?

Yes, you can restrict accounts without fully blocking them. Visit the account, tap ‘Following’, and then select ‘Restrict’ to limit interactions without complete blockage.

Why do I see old posts at the top of my feed?

Old posts may appear because you’re using the default algorithm that prioritizes content based on your activity rather than chronological order. You can adjust this as outlined earlier.

Can I remove certain users from appearing in my feed?

Yes, you can restrict or block users to stop seeing their posts in your feed, or create a favorites list to refine your viewing experience further.

Can I hide posts from my feed?

Yes, hiding posts is straightforward. Tap the 3-dot menu icon on the post and select ‘Hide’ to remove it from your feed.

How is hiding a post different from reporting?

Hiding a post simply removes it from your feed, while reporting flags it for violation of Instagram’s guidelines, which could involve action against the account or content.

This post aims to help you effortlessly customize your Instagram feed. For further questions or assistance, feel free to comment below.

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