Creators were left bewildered over the weekend after realizing Instagram has been limiting political content without their permission. Instagram toggled the setting to “limit political content” on for all users by default.
Instagram launched this feature in a blog post released in February 2024. The company wrote that it “won’t proactively recommend content about politics on recommendation surfaces across Instagram and Threads.” Facebook will add a similar setting “at a later date.”
In the post, Instagram defines political content as “likely to mention governments, elections, or social topics that affect a large group of people and/or society at large.”
“If you still want these posts recommended to you, you will have a control to see them,” the post adds.
But the change isn’t going down well with creators, with many only just now discovering the change.
Instagram creator Matt Bernstein described the move as “insane,” while creator Michaela Okland noted how the timing of the feature feels “very suspect.”
“During an election year, during a humanitarian crisis, during a censorship crisis,” Bernstein wrote. “Weird!”
Users can select the “don’t limit” political content toggle by going into Settings, Content Preferences, and Political Content.
But for creators who make political content, this is no doubt a blow to their survival on the platform.
“Now, it’s going to be harder for us to reach larger audiences,” Palestinian creator Subhi said in a TikTok. “Reccomendations is how we’re able to continue to spread the word. Now, that feature, reccomendations, is gone for us.”
Are you an Instagram creator who makes political content? Will this change impact you? Email [email protected] to share your story.
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