Adam Mosseri, the leader of Instagram, has revealed a significant change in how Meta will handle political content across Instagram and Threads. The new policy aims to reduce the visibility of political posts by not actively promoting them, even though users may still see such content from accounts they already follow.
Over the coming weeks, Meta will start to implement these changes, particularly affecting areas of Instagram and Threads where content is recommended by Meta’s algorithms, such as the Reels and Explore sections of Instagram, and Threads’ suggested users feature.
While Mosseri did not specify what constitutes “political” content, a Meta spokesperson elaborated that this would include discussions on government, elections, laws, and social issues. This broad category, covering topics from legislation to global social matters, will be refined over time as Meta continues to consult with community feedback and expert advice.
Meta is set to limit the promotion of content considered sensitive, offering users the ability to tailor their experience by adjusting settings on Instagram and Threads if they wish to see more of such content. This decision will not affect the visibility of posts from accounts users choose to follow directly.
Users looking to stay informed on political matters can modify their preferences in the app settings, ensuring they remain connected to the topics they care about without the platform’s direct promotion.
This update is part of Meta’s wider effort to create a less contentious environment on Threads and Instagram by avoiding the promotion of divisive topics. Previously, Meta has also filtered search results on Threads to exclude “potentially sensitive” content related to health and political controversies.
Adam Mosseri’s announcement signals Meta’s intention to carefully navigate the complex landscape of political discourse on its platforms. By adjusting the algorithm to reduce the emphasis on political content, Meta aims to foster a more neutral space for users while still providing the option for those interested to engage with such topics through personalized settings.