No Vaseline
When Looking goes Wrong
So, you open up Instagram or TikTok, expecting to catch up with friends or scroll through some memes, and BAM—your newsfeed is filled with half-naked women. Every scroll feels like déjà vu, and you can’t help but wonder: Why is this happening? Is it the algorithm? Is it something you did? And, most importantly, how do you take back control of your feed without deleting your account?
You’re not alone in this. Let’s break down how the algorithm works, why your timeline looks like a never-ending beach party, and how you can gain control over what you’re being fed.
The Algorithm: Your New Best Frenemy
First, let’s talk about algorithms—those invisible forces that decide what content shows up in your feed. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook use algorithms to show you what they think you’ll engage with. The goal? To keep you glued to your screen for as long as possible.
How do they do it? These algorithms track everything you do, from likes and shares to how long you hover on a post. Yep, even pausing for a few seconds longer on a photo sends a signal to the app that you might be interested. According to recent studies, if you spend more than 1.7 seconds on a particular post, the algorithm takes that as an indication that the content is of interest to you and will start pushing similar posts your way.
In fact, Instagram has openly stated that they track not only your likes and follows, but also your scrolling behavior. So, even if you haven’t liked or commented on any of the bikini pics, just lingering on those posts long enough makes the algorithm think, “Hey, he’s into this!” and it starts flooding your feed with more of the same.
Why Your Feed is Full of… Well, That
The truth is, the algorithm is just doing its job. It’s designed to keep you engaged. And whether you realize it or not, some of your actions may have contributed to the constant flow of half-naked women in your feed. Every time you:
• Like a fitness model’s post
• Pause on a trending video featuring an influencer in a bikini
• Follow accounts that share provocative content
• Engage with certain hashtags or explore pages that push risqué content
…the algorithm takes note. Even if you only accidentally clicked on or paused a bit too long on one post, it’s enough for the platform to assume you’re interested. Before you know it, your timeline looks like spring break in Miami.
A Brief History: Why Is This Even Legal?
You might be wondering, How is this legal? Why are they tracking me so closely?
It all started back in the early 2000s, when platforms like Google and Facebook started realizing the value of data. At the time, there were no strict laws governing what companies could do with the information they collected from users, which led to the rise of behavioral advertising. The more they knew about your likes, dislikes, and habits, the more targeted their ads could become—and the more profit they could make.
The 2000s and 2010s saw the explosion of algorithms as social media companies realized they could use user behavior data to craft highly personalized feeds. The algorithms were (and still are) designed to keep users on the platform for as long as possible. The longer you’re engaged, the more ads they can show you, and the more data they collect. It wasn’t until 2018, after the Cambridge Analytica scandal, that public outrage began to build around the extent to which companies were collecting and exploiting user data.
But here’s the kicker: there are still no federal laws in the U.S. explicitly preventing companies like Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok from tracking your in-app behavior. While the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires platforms to be more transparent about how they collect and use data, the U.S. hasn’t implemented similar sweeping protections for users.
So, until legislation catches up, social media platforms are legally allowed to track what you do within the app and use that data to curate your timeline. It’s legal, but that doesn’t mean it’s ideal.
How to Take Back Control of Your Feed
Good news—you don’t have to delete your accounts and disappear into the digital wilderness to fix this. Here’s how you can start training the algorithm to show you content you actually want:
1. Unfollow and Mute: Start by unfollowing or muting accounts that consistently post content you don’t want to see. On Instagram, you can mute accounts so their posts and stories no longer show up in your feed without unfollowing them.
2. Use the “Not Interested” Button: Did you know that both Instagram and TikTok have a “Not Interested” option? When you see a post you don’t like, tap the three dots or the menu, and select “Not Interested”. This signals to the algorithm that this type of content doesn’t appeal to you, and it will start showing you less of it.
3. Engage with What You Want to See: Start liking, sharing, and saving the content you actually want to see. Whether it’s sports, tech, art, or travel, the more you interact with those posts, the more the algorithm will prioritize them.
4. Limit Explore Page Browsing: The Explore Page is the wild west of Instagram—it’s filled with content the app thinks will grab your attention. If it’s showing you stuff you don’t want to see, limit your time there, or use the “Not Interested” button to curate it.
5. Reset Your Search History: The algorithm also uses your search history to serve up content. Go into your settings on Instagram or TikTok and clear your search history to start fresh.
What Needs to Change for the Future?
To make sure users have more control over what they see, we need better regulation and transparency. Social media platforms should be required to provide clear options for controlling what appears in your feed, and algorithms should be less aggressive in bombarding users with content based on accidental interactions.
Some experts argue for a “transparent algorithm” system, where platforms would show users exactly how their behavior is affecting their feed in real-time. Others advocate for data privacy laws that allow users to opt out of having their scrolling behavior tracked altogether.
Until the laws catch up, though, it’s on us to take back control. By actively training the algorithm and being conscious of what we interact with, we can shape our own digital experiences.
Take Control and Scroll Happily Ever After
While the algorithm might feel like it’s taking over your feed, you can take back control. By unfollowing, muting, and using the “Not Interested” feature, you can shift your timeline to be full of the things you actually care about.
Remember: you don’t have to settle for a newsfeed you didn’t ask for. Take control, train your algorithm, and get your digital life back on track—without deleting your accounts.
