Meta moves to reduce political buzz on Instagram and threads

The decision emerges from Instagram’s ambition to curate a platform experience that respects individual preferences regarding political engagement. “If you decide to follow accounts that post political content, we don’t want to get between you and their posts, but we also don’t want to proactively recommend political content from accounts you don’t follow,” stated the company in a recent blog post. This move underscores Instagram’s commitment to user choice, allowing individuals to tailor their interaction with political content according to their personal interests.

Additionally, both Instagram and Threads will introduce a new setting, enabling users who wish to receive recommendations for political content to opt-in. This adjustment is part of a broader initiative by Meta to refine the user experience across its platforms, with plans to implement similar controls on Facebook in the near future.

Instagram defines “political content” broadly, covering topics potentially related to laws, elections, or social issues. Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, emphasized the company’s objective in a Threads post: “Our goal is to preserve the ability for people to choose to interact with political content, while respecting each person’s appetite for it.”

The update will affect various sections of the Instagram app, including Explore, Reels, In-Feed Recommendations, and Suggested Users, marking a significant reduction in the visibility of unsolicited political content. Meta has been gradually deprioritizing political content across its social apps, including Facebook, in response to user feedback desiring less political content in their feeds.

Professional accounts on Instagram will have the opportunity to review their Account Status setting to determine if their posts are eligible for recommendation. This feature allows for greater transparency and control over content distribution, with options available for accounts flagged for political content to adjust their posting strategies or request a review of Instagram’s designation.

This policy revision by Instagram reflects a growing trend among social media platforms to balance content diversity with user preferences, aiming to foster a more positive and customizable online environment.