How to Turn Off Follow Suggestions on Instagram: A Complete Guide
Instagram is a fantastic platform for connecting with friends, following your favorite accounts, and discovering new content. However, the constant stream of follow suggestions can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially if the recommendations don’t resonate with you. If you’re wondering how to turn off follow suggestions on Instagram, this guide is for you. We’ll explain how Instagram’s algorithm works and provide step-by-step instructions to disable follow suggestions on both mobile and desktop.
How Instagram Suggests Which Accounts to Follow
Instagram’s algorithm suggests accounts based on various factors, including:
- Profile Visits: The profiles you visit frequently.
- Post Interactions: Your engagement with posts, such as likes and comments.
- Content Searches: The type of content you search for on Instagram.
- Mutual Friends: Suggestions based on your contacts and linked social accounts like Facebook.
- Location and Device Info: Data from your current location and device.
- Linked Social Accounts: Connections from other platforms like Facebook.
Understanding this helps explain why you see certain suggestions and how to control them.
How to Turn Off Follow Suggestions on Instagram
Turn Off Follow Suggestions via Notifications
To stop Instagram from suggesting accounts through notifications, follow these steps:
- Open Instagram on your iPhone or Android device and go to your profile.
- Tap the hamburger menu icon in the top-right corner and select Settings and privacy.
- Select Notifications and then go to Following and followers.
- Disable the options for Accepted Follow Requests and Account Suggestions.
Turn Off Specific Account Suggestions on Instagram
You can also disable specific account suggestions that appear while scrolling your feed or in the Discover tab:
From Your Feed
- When you see a suggestion, tap the three dots next to the Follow button.
- Select Not Interested.
From the Discover Tab
- Open Instagram and go to your profile page.
- Tap the hamburger menu and select Discover People.
- Tap the X icon next to the suggested account name to remove it.
Permanently Disable Contact Syncing
To avoid follow suggestions based on your phone contacts, disable contact syncing:
On Mobile
- Open Instagram and go to your profile page.
- Tap the hamburger menu and select Settings and privacy.
- Select Account Center and choose Your Information and permissions.
- Tap Upload Contacts and disable Contact Syncing.
On Desktop
- Open Instagram on your web browser and log into your account.
- Go to your profile and click the Settings icon.
- Select Settings and Privacy.
- Click Account Center on the left side.
- Select Your Information and permissions and then Manage Contacts.
- Choose your Instagram account and disable contact syncing.
Turn Off Instagram Account Suggestions to Others on Desktop
To stop Instagram from suggesting your profile to other users, follow these steps:
- Open Instagram on your web browser and click on Edit Profile.
- Scroll down and click the toggle next to Show Account Suggestion on Profiles.
- Click Submit to save the changes.
FAQs
1. How do Instagram follow suggestions work?
Instagram suggests accounts based on your activity, such as the profiles you visit, your interactions with posts, and your contacts.
2. Can I disable follow suggestions on Instagram?
Yes, you can disable follow suggestions through your settings and by turning off contact syncing.
3. How do I turn off follow suggestions on Instagram mobile?
Go to your profile, tap the hamburger menu, select Settings and privacy, then Notifications, and disable Account Suggestions.
4. Is it possible to turn off follow suggestions on the Instagram web?
Yes, you can disable suggestions by editing your profile settings on the Instagram web version.
5. How can I stop specific follow suggestions in my feed?
Tap the three dots next to the suggested account and select Not Interested.
6. What happens if I disable contact syncing on Instagram?
Disabling contact syncing stops Instagram from suggesting accounts based on your phone contacts.
7. Can I prevent Instagram from suggesting my profile to others?
Yes, you can turn off this feature in your profile settings on the desktop version.
8. Why does Instagram suggest accounts I don’t know?
Instagram’s algorithm bases suggestions on various data points, including mutual friends and your activity, which can sometimes result in unfamiliar recommendations.
9. How often should I review my Instagram settings?
It’s a good practice to review your settings periodically to ensure your preferences are up-to-date.
10. Will turning off follow suggestions affect my account visibility?
Disabling suggestions will not affect your existing followers or your ability to discover new content; it merely reduces unwanted recommendations.
Turning off follow suggestions on Instagram allows you to curate your feed more mindfully and avoid unnecessary clutter. If you have any questions or additional tips, feel free to share them in the comments below. And while you’re at it, let us know your favorite Instagram handles for short movie reviews!
