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Meta is rolling out new changes to Instagram and Threads that will automatically limit the amount of political content users can see from accounts they don't follow.
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Meta is rolling out new changes to Instagram and Threads that will automatically limit the amount of political content users can see from accounts they don't follow.
Loic Venance/AFP via Getty Images
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, is making good on its promise to reduce the amount of political posts users see in their feeds.
Meta said in early February that Instagram and Threads would stop recommending political content from accounts users don't already follow. It said it would roll out changes “slowly over time,” but did not specify when.
The changes began rolling out to users last week, Meta confirmed to NPR on Monday. And Instagram users are quick to note that their preferences have now changed to restrict content that, as the app puts it, “is likely to mention government, elections, or social topics that affect multiple people and/or society in general.” I started setting up.
![Meta's Threads aims to be a 'friendly' space by downgrading news and politics.](https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2023/07/11/gettyimages-1517080035_sq-d37242a89619a982775686886f0b2607a8af54a6-s100.jpg)
These changes have also left most online users defenseless. Many users have criticized Meta for limiting political content in a high-stakes election year in the U.S. and several other countries, and for doing so with relatively little warning.
And many have pointed out that Meta's definition of political content, which “could potentially relate to things like laws, elections, and social topics,” seemed a bit broad.
The company declined to provide further clarity on what exactly political content is under its cryptic definition.
But the move is consistent with several years of change away from news across Meta services. Last year, company executives said Threads would stop promoting posts about news and social issues, angering many people who use social media to stay informed.
Spokesperson Dani Lever told several media outlets that the changes build on “years of work on how we access and handle political content based on what people say they want.”
![Meta will begin labeling AI-generated images on Instagram and Facebook.](https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2024/02/05/gettyimages-1934759968_sq-171d9d0fa813bfb03937bf93c703326cfba7a8c5-s100.jpg)
While company executives argue that getting away from the news is what users want, experts say Meta is trying to distance itself from accusations of political bias and the rise of misinformation and the growth of online extremism.
Changes and how to cancel
Meta stressed that the new settings won't affect content from accounts people already follow and would otherwise give them the option to choose how much political content they want to see recommended.
Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, told Threads last month that the changes will impact what people see on Instagram and Threads' main feeds, such as Explore pages, Reels, feed recommendations, and featured users.
“Our goal is to preserve people’s ability to interact with political content while respecting each person’s tastes in political content,” Mosseri said.
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You can update your preferences in the app to prevent Instagram from restricting political content.
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You can update your preferences in the app to prevent Instagram from restricting political content.
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Meta emphasized that people seeking political nominations can still choose to receive nominations. Here's how:
- Go to Instagram profile Tap the three horizontal lines in the top right corner to open the 'Settings and Activity' tab.
- Scroll down to ‘What You’re Seeing Now’. part time job Click ‘Content Preferences’.
- Open the 'Political Content' page Turn on the “Do not restrict political content” option.
Mehta frames this change as an expansion of current approaches to political content.
Facebook and Instagram have made significant changes to their algorithms in recent years amid growing evidence and criticism of their role in sowing misinformation and polarization in the 2016 and 2020 U.S. elections. Facebook is increasingly focused on entertainment and away from news, disrupting traffic for many major publishers.
![New research shows how Facebook's algorithm creates conservative and liberal bubbles.](https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2023/07/27/gettyimages-1461790373_sq-eb730f05f10da0289b42ddaff0bfed89ecf10125-s100.jpg)
“People have told us they want to see less political content, so we’ve refined our approach to Facebook over the past few years to reduce the amount of political content you see in Feed, Reels, Watch, and Groups, including from political accounts.” ‘A must-do and like-worthy page,’ Meta explained in February.
It also said Facebook users would have the option to select political recommendations “at a later date.”
NPR's Bobby Allyn contributed reporting.