Instagram is pushing gore and violence to users’ feeds

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Instagram has solidified its position as a dominant social media platform. A significant component of its success is Reels, its short-form video feature inspired by TikTok. 

However, a troubling shift has emerged in recent days, with an increasing number of users reporting a surge in graphic and violent content on their Reels feed. 

Reports indicate that videos showcasing graphic violence, including shootings, stabbings, and other disturbing acts, are appearing with alarming frequency. 

Additionally, some users have encountered sexual content and other forms of explicit material despite having restrictions enabled. 

The sudden influx of such content has raised significant concerns regarding Instagram’s content moderation and algorithmic recommendations.

Instagram users alarmed by violent content on their Reels feed

For some users, the change appeared as early as Tuesday night, though others have reported similar experiences from previous days. 

Many users have taken to social media platforms like X/Twitter and Reddit to express their shock and frustration. 

The cause of this surge remains unclear. Some users speculated that Instagram’s content moderation team might be on strike, but no credible evidence supports this claim. 

Another possible explanation is a bug affecting Instagram’s content moderation system or algorithm, allowing inappropriate content to bypass usual restrictions. However, no definitive cause has been identified.

Interestingly, Instagram is reportedly exploring the idea of launching Reels as a separate app, as reported by The Information. 

While this upcoming development is unlikely to be linked to the recent surge in graphic content, it raises questions about Instagram’s evolving content strategy.

Despite the growing user outcry, Meta, Instagram’s parent company, has yet to address the issue. 

Unfortunately, there is no DIY workaround to fix this issue, so you’ll have to wait patiently for Instagram to fix it. 

Hopefully, Meta will fix the Instagram algorithm sooner rather than later. Until then, safe scrolling!

Has your Instagram feed also started showing you gore and violence? How bad is it, and have you noticed any positive change? We want to know more from you, so hit us up in the comments below, or via our Twitter or Facebook.