Have you ever found yourself scrolling through your Instagram search history and asking yourself, “why did I even look this up?” Whether it’s out of curiosity, a random search or concern about your digital footprint, clearing your Instagram searches can give you a social media refresh.
If you’re not sure how to clear Instagram searches, we’ve got you covered. This article is going to cover how to clear them to maintain privacy along with keeping relevant search tabs.
Why Should I Clear My Instagram Searches?
Clearing your search history on Instagram isn’t just about privacy. It’s also about relevancy to your interests. Instagram’s algorithm uses your search history to tailor the content and suggestions you see. For instance, if you search a one-off topic that’s outside of your normal interests, it can throw off the algorithm. This is likely why you may see suggestions for things unrelated to your usual stream of content.
How to Clear Instagram Searches
Following these steps will allow you to clean out your searches.
Access Your Search History
- Open Instagram: Head to Instagram and open it up
- Profile and Settings: Click in your profile picture in the bottom right corner and go to your profile. Then, select the three horizontal lines to access the menu. Click on Settings.
Clearing Your Instagram Search History
- Security and Privacy: While in Settings, find the Security section. Here is where you’ll find the option for ‘Search History’ or ‘Clear Search History,’ depending on your device.
- The Final Step: This is where you’ll see a list of your recent searches. You can clear each search individually by selecting the X next to it, or select ‘Clear All’ to clear everything.
Clearing Through the Search Bar
Another method you can use to clear your searches is through the Instagram search bar.
- Find the Search Bar: From the Instagram app, select the magnifying glass icon at the bottom.
- Click the Search Bar: When you click on the search bar, there will be a drop down of all of your recent searches.
- Clear the Searches: You can select the X and delete certain searches, or click ‘see all’ and there will be a ‘clear all’ option.
Something to Consider
Keep in mind that clearing your search history on Instagram is a temporary privacy measure. Your searches may still be stored in some form on Instagram’s servers as part of your account data. For those who are clearing their search history for digital privacy, you may want to consider a more comprehensive privacy setting, or decreasing your search activity.
Final Thoughts
Clearing your Instagram search history can feel like cleaning up your digital living room. It’s a tool you can use to control what content is suggested to you, and enhances your social media experience. This method can help you keep content as relevant as possible. Plus, it’s quick and easy to do. Happy scrolling!
