Take Control of Your Social Media Feed: Tips to Customize What You See
If you’ve ever scrolled through your social media feed only to find content that doesn’t resonate with you, you’re not alone. Fortunately, many social media platforms offer various settings to help you regain control over the content displayed on your feeds.
1. Resist Engaging with Content You’d Rather Not Encounter
Most social media platforms, from TikTok to Instagram and YouTube, use algorithms that track your interactions to recommend similar posts. This means that your engagements—or lack thereof—directly shape what content you continue to see.
To better curate your feed, avoid interacting with posts that you find upsetting or irrelevant. This includes not commenting, saving, or sharing content that doesn’t align with your interests. If you engage with such posts, you may inadvertently instruct the algorithm to show you more of the same.
2. Hide Content and Indicate You’re Not Interested
Even with sophisticated algorithms, there are times when you’ll come across posts that don’t suit your tastes. It might be tempting to leave a negative comment, thinking it will mute similar content. However, this often backfires, as commenting still registers as engagement with the post.
Instead, simply scroll past the undesirable content or opt to hide it. Most platforms allow you to mark posts as "Not Interested," which helps the algorithm refine its suggestions to match your preferences more accurately.
For example, on Instagram, tap the three dots in the upper right corner of a post and choose Hide to prevent similar content from appearing in the future.
3. Unfollow Accounts That Share Content You Dislike
If you’re consistently bothered by posts from a particular account, consider unfollowing it altogether. While hiding or marking content as irrelevant can help in the short term, unfollowing removes it from your feed entirely.
Social platforms typically have two types of feeds: one based on the algorithm and another that shows updates from people and pages you follow. By unfollowing accounts that no longer resonate with you, you help eliminate unwanted content from both feeds.
4. Mute or Snooze Accounts
Sometimes unfollowing an acquaintance or someone you know might feel awkward, especially if you’re worried about how they might react. In this scenario, muting or snoozing accounts can be an excellent alternative. These options allow you to stop seeing someone’s posts without them being notified.
For instance, on Instagram, go to the user’s profile and tap the Following button. From the menu, select Mute and choose whether to mute their Posts, Stories, or both. On Facebook, you can snooze accounts directly from your News Feed.
5. Report Content That Triggers or Disturbs You
Many users, including myself, have taken breaks from social media due to encountering distressing content. Unfortunately, some accounts share graphic images or upsetting videos without providing any content warnings.
If you come across posts that make you feel uncomfortable, reporting them can be helpful. Simply tap the three dots or long-press the post, then select Report. Choosing a reason for your report not only acknowledges your discomfort but also helps create a more supportive online environment for everyone.
6. Enable Filters for Sensitive Content
Many platforms now offer options to filter out NSFW or sensitive content. You can usually find these options in your account settings under Content Preferences.
Activating these filters can greatly reduce the amount of inappropriate material that appears on your feeds across platforms like Twitter (now X) and Reddit. With just a toggle, you can make social media a more enjoyable and relaxed space free from unexpected content that might upset you.
With the strategies outlined above, you can significantly enhance your social media experience, making it a more personalized and enjoyable space.
