Instagram is introducing a series of new features designed to create a safer and more positive experience for teens on the platform. One of the key updates is the “Recommendation Reset” feature, which allows users to clear their suggested content across Explore, Reels, and Feed with just a few taps. By resetting their recommendations, teens can start fresh, allowing Instagram to recalibrate what it shows them based on new interactions. This update also includes a helpful option for users to review and unfollow accounts that no longer align with their interests.

To provide additional support, Instagram has partnered with Joanna and Clea from The Home Edit, offering practical advice aimed at helping parents and teens manage their content. They compare managing Instagram feeds to organising a home—encouraging users to regularly evaluate what they see to ensure it reflects their evolving passions and preferences.

This new Recommendation Reset feature builds on Instagram’s existing tools for content curation, giving teens greater control over their digital experience. For example, users can tap on a three-dot menu to indicate if they are interested in specific posts or if they’d prefer to see less of that type of content. Additionally, teens in countries like the US, UK, Canada, and Australia can choose specific topics to view more of, including sports, travel, cooking, or books. The platform also allows users to filter out content with specific words or phrases, ensuring that their feeds are tailored to their liking.

Further enhancing this control, Instagram offers features such as the Following Feed, which displays content from followed accounts in chronological order, and the Favourites List, which elevates posts from preferred accounts. Users can also limit who can view their Stories through the Close Friends feature and manage their past interactions with the Your Activity tool. Together, these functionalities empower teens to personalise their feeds and shape their Instagram experience in a way that aligns with their interests.

Beyond these customisation options, Instagram is also committed to protecting teens from exposure to sensitive or mature content. The platform has implemented stricter rules to prevent such materials from appearing in recommendations and actively hides them from teen users, even if shared by individuals they follow. A new section in Instagram’s Transparency Center provides clear information about the types of content that are removed or hidden from teens’ recommendations, illustrating the platform’s dedication to their safety.

With these updates, Instagram aims not only to engage its younger audience but also to ensure that their time spent online is meaningful, safe, and age-appropriate. By merging advanced recommendation tools with robust safety measures, Instagram continues to prioritise the well-being of teens, fostering a healthier digital space for this vital demographic.