The “algorithm” has become a familiar term as social media platforms have moved away from showing posts in chronological order. Instead, they increasingly recommend content based on relevance, popularity and engagement. This means that viewed or heavily discussed content can appear on our feeds even when we have not chosen to follow these creators. At times, this may include upsetting or unhelpful posts relating to diet culture, weight loss, appearance or other topics we would prefer to avoid.
However, we have more control over our social media experience than we may realise. Most platforms provide tools that allow us to influence recommendations, filter certain keywords or topics, hide unwanted posts and manage sensitive content. Regularly reviewing the accounts we follow and noticing how content affects us can also help create a healthier and more individually supportive online environment.
The Bodywhys resource linked here provides practical, step-by-step guidance for improving your experience across Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube. It explains how to use the settings and features available on each platform so that your feed better reflects the content you want to see and reduces your exposure to content you find harmful or distressing.
