At Blue Zone Marketing, one of the most essential services we offer is marketing through social media. That means we need to stay on top of things, including staying alert to what's going on in social media. That is why we are monitoring recent changes to Instagram.

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In a recent development, Instagram has initiated an automatic clampdown on the amount of political content appearing in its users' feeds from accounts they don't already follow. This move aims to limit posts about laws, elections, or social topics from unfamiliar accounts.

Instagram's Surprising Changes and User Concerns: A Closer Look

According to reports from tech site Ars Technica, Instagram didn't directly notify its users about this change, leaving many unaware of the shift in their feed dynamics. This adjustment comes amidst crucial elections globally, with Meta's recent ban on Canadian news further intensifying concerns.

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Users have expressed outrage, citing censorship and a worrying limitation on political discourse. Some fear that Instagram's definition of political content is overly broad, potentially affecting posts deemed non-political.

User Backlash

The response from users has been vocal, with many expressing their discontent on various platforms. Civil rights activists, attorneys, and everyday users have taken to social media to voice their concerns about the default settings favoring censorship.

Instagram's Response

As part of a recent initiative, Instagram has ceased "proactively" recommending political content from accounts users haven't opted to follow. To implement this, the platform has automatically set the "political content" control to "limit" on user accounts, affecting even those with Threads accounts linked to Instagram.

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Instagram's rationale behind this decision is clear: to prevent the inadvertent recommendation of potentially divisive content. However, critics argue that this move could stifle crucial conversations and limit access to critical information. For many people, social media has defaulted to being either the primary source or, at the very least, a key source for obtaining political news.

How to Get Around It

If you find yourself wanting to bypass Instagram's political content limitations, follow these simple steps:

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• Access Your Settings: Open the Instagram app on your smartphone.
• Navigate to Content Preferences: Tap the three-dash menu located at the top right corner of the screen. Then, select "Settings and Privacy."
• Adjust Political Content Settings: Within the settings menu, locate and select "Content Preferences." Then, choose the "Political Content" option.
• Opt-Out of Limitations: Finally, toggle the setting to "Don't Limit."

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By following these steps, you can regain access to political content from a broader range of accounts, ensuring that your feed remains informative.

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If you find it overwhelming to keep up with all the changes happening on social media and other marketing platforms because you're focused on running your business, let us take care of that for you. At Blue Zone Marketing, we offer top-notch digital marketing services and make it our priority to stay informed about the latest developments in the industry, relieving you of having to monitor changes that may affect your business.

With offices located in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Liberty Lake, Washington, and Scottsdale, Arizona, we are well-positioned to assist both local businesses and national clients. Whether you're looking to enhance your local presence or expand your reach nationwide, we're here to help. Get in touch with us today to start a conversation about your marketing needs. Visit our website for more information about our services and how we can support your business goals.