I have to admit something for the longest time, Instagram’s suggested reels felt like a wild rollercoaster I never asked to ride. I’d scroll endlessly, trying to find content that actually matched my vibe, only to be hit with videos that felt irrelevant or downright repetitive.
Honestly, it was frustrating and a little exhausting. You know that feeling when the algorithm seems to have a mind of its own, showing you reels you don’t care about, wasting your time? Yeah, that was me, every day.
But here’s the cool part: I discovered there are actually tools and settings within Instagram that let you take back control of your suggested reels feed. It wasn’t some fancy hack or secret trick just a few simple steps that made a huge difference in how I experience the app.
If you’re like me, tired of wasting time on reels that don’t match your interests or just want to avoid that annoying content overload, keep reading. I’m going to walk you through exactly how I reshaped my Instagram feed, what worked, what I hated, and what you should try next.
Why I Decided to Change My Suggested Reels on Instagram
At first, I didn’t realize how much the suggested reels were affecting my Instagram experience. I love reels and engaging content, but when the feed starts showing me political rants or just random videos that don’t align with my interests, it feels like Instagram is working against me.
One annoying issue was sensitive content popping up constantly stuff I had no interest in and frankly didn’t want to see.
I was worried that the algorithm was learning the wrong signals from me, especially when I wasn’t actively liking or commenting. And I hated that I couldn’t just hit a simple “stop” button to clean things up.
So, I decided to explore the sensitive content settings, manage my reels preferences, and even use the report option more often than I thought I would. Here’s how I did it.
How I Took Back Control: Six Practical Ways to Manage Suggested Reels
1. I Disabled Suggested Reels for a Month And It Helped More Than I Expected
This one felt drastic at first. I went into my Instagram settings and tapped Suggested Content, then chose to snooze suggested posts for a whole month. The idea was to reduce the flood of random reels I was seeing. Honestly, it was refreshing.
My feed felt lighter and more relevant, like a breath of fresh air. I still saw posts from accounts I followed, but the unwanted noise was gone.
2. I Adjusted Sensitive Content Settings Because Not All Content Is Created Equal
If you’re tired of political or adult content popping up when you don’t want it, this setting is a game changer.
Instagram lets you pick between more, standard, and less sensitive content. I chose “less,” which really filtered out a lot of stuff I found inappropriate or annoying. It felt like the algorithm finally got a clue about what I actually want to see.
3. Reporting Problematic Reels Felt Like a Small Victory
Using the report option might sound tedious, but it made me feel like I was actively teaching Instagram what I don’t want.
Whether it was reels with bullying, false information, or hate speech, reporting helped refine the algorithm. It’s not perfect, but it definitely made a difference over time.
4. Clearing My Search History Helped Reset My Feed’s Direction
One of the coolest tricks I tried was clearing my search history. Going into accounts center, selecting search history, and hitting precise all searches felt like hitting a reset button on what Instagram thought I liked.
After that, my feed slowly became more aligned with my actual preferences like starting fresh with a cleaner slate.
5. I Started Liking Posts That Truly Matched My Interests
This sounds obvious, but actively liking reels and posts that really resonate with me helped Instagram learn my tastes faster. I even went back and removed likes on posts that no longer fit my vibe. It was satisfying to signal to the algorithm exactly what I wanted more of and what I was done with.
6. Engaging More Made My Feed Feel Personalized and Enjoyable
Finally, I made a habit of commenting on and sharing reels I genuinely enjoyed. The more I interacted, the smarter the algorithm got at showing me similar content. It felt like my Instagram feed was finally reflecting me my preferences, my interests, and even my personality.
What About the Instagram Explore Page? Here’s How I Manage That Too
Managing suggested reels isn’t just about the main feed. I realized the Explore page was another place where irrelevant or inappropriate reels popped up. Here’s my step-by-step for cleaning that up:
- Open the Explore page by tapping the magnifying glass.
- Select a reel that feels off or irrelevant.
- Tap the three dots on the right side of the reel.
- Choose Not Interested from the pop-up.
- Pick a reason why maybe it’s irrelevant, uncomfortable, or just not your thing.
This simple process made my Explore page way less annoying and more useful. Instagram’s algorithm starts to understand what to suggest less of, and the feed becomes way more relevant.
Final Thoughts: Why I’m Glad I Took the Time to Customize My Suggested Reels
If you’re worried about spending hours tweaking settings or think this won’t make a difference, I get it. I was skeptical too. But customizing your suggested reels feed is easier than it sounds and totally worth the effort.
Whether you decide to turn off suggested reels, adjust sensitive content settings, or simply engage more with content you love, the end result is a more enjoyable, personalized Instagram experience. I went from feeling overwhelmed and annoyed to actually looking forward to scrolling through reels.
So, if you want to stop feeling like Instagram is controlling your feed and start shaping it to suit your unique preferences, try these steps out. Your time on Instagram will feel more valuable, and who knows? You might even rediscover the joy of reels all over again.
