Instagram generates almost 100 million posts per day. That’s millions upon millions of photos, videos, reels, and other types of media that an average user will not see in their lifetime, not even once. A lot of those go viral, even earning tens of millions of likes. And if you’re new to Instagram or are just a passive user, chances are you’ll run into those types of posts first. After all, that’s what the algorithm recommends.
But then again, why would you want to watch or engage with posts that you yourself didn’t look for? Sure, sometimes the algorithm gets what you like, but other times it will simply push content onto you that you literally have zero interest in. At that point, you will want to somehow prevent the platform from suggesting posts. Well, is that even possible in 2023?
In this article, we will go over what suggested posts are on Instagram, how the platform recommends them to users, and, most importantly, what you can do to disable this feature. Take control of your Instagram feed today and curate your experience the way you see fit!
What Are Suggested Posts?
They might come up on the Explore page, or they might sneak into your feed, but chances are high that you’re going to see Instagram suggesting a post or two. Nearly 99% of the time, they will be from content creators or brands you’ve never heard of. And while it may seem random, there’s a method to Instagram’s post recommendations.
Firstly, the platform keeps track of your activity. If you follow a specific user, click on their posts, leave a comment, or like a piece of content, the algorithm remembers that. So, based on your prior action as an IG user, it will promote similar or related types of content on a regular basis.
Next, the algorithm doesn’t just keep track of what you do. Your connections, i.e., the followers and the people who comment on your posts, can also influence it. That’s how you get recommendations for interests and hobbies that you might not engage in but are the bread and butter of some of your followers.
Finally, there’s the matter of popular accounts and/or posts themselves. If an account on Instagram grows in popularity, it’s more likely to appear even if you don’t explicitly search for it. The same goes for viral posts; with enough likes, comments, and views, a piece of content can become so popular that Instagram will want as many eyeballs on it as possible.
Turning Suggested Posts Off
OK, so you know what suggested posts are, so let’s figure out how you can switch them off. Right now, there is one method of doing so in 2023, but there is a caveat. Namely, you can’t disable suggested posts as a whole. They will always appear in your feed or on the Explore page. But you can reduce the number of recommended content that’s related to topics you’re not interested in.
The aforementioned method goes as follows:
- Launch the Instagram app;
- Scroll down until you find a bit of content with the phrase Suggested post right above it;
- Tap the three vertical dots menu in the top right corner of the screen;
- Among the given prompts, tap Not interested.
After tapping the prompt, you will be given four options to choose from.
The first prompt with the X icon will stop suggesting posts from that specific account. The next prompt is a little broader in scope. By tapping the Aa icon, you will stop Instagram from suggesting posts with certain words. Right underneath it is the prompt next to the clock icon. Here you can snooze all Instagram recommendations, but only for 30 days. Finally, you can manage your suggested content by tapping on the icon with two sliders.
If you want a quick method of disabling individual suggested content, all you have to do is tap the big X right above the post.
Suggested Reels (and How to Turn Them Off)
As is the case with regular posts, Instagram will also recommend reels in your feed from time to time. Disabling them is more or less similar to how you do it with regular posts:
- When you see a suggested reel, tap the three vertical dots and then pick Not interested;
- Of the three options, tap the X Icon prompt to disable recommended reels from that particular user;
- Tap the Aa icon to disable recommended reels with specific keywords;
- Tap the sad face emoji icon to report the reel in case it contains inappropriate content.
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