How To Stop Disturbing And Inappropriate Content On Your Instagram Feed

Published on March 3rd, 2025

Instagram users have reported an increase in disturbing and inappropriate content appearing in their feeds, despite having content filters enabled.

While Instagram enforces strict Community Standards, users can take additional measures to control what they see.

If you want to ensure your Instagram experience is free from unwanted material, follow this comprehensive guide to customizing your feed.

Understanding Instagram’s Content Control Measures

Instagram has multiple layers of content control designed to minimize exposure to sensitive or inappropriate content. Here’s how it works:

Community Standards: Instagram removes content that violates its guidelines, such as hate speech, graphic violence, and explicit material.
Recommendation Guidelines: Some content that doesn’t explicitly violate Instagram’s policies may still be restricted from appearing in your feed, Explore tab, or suggested content.
Sensitive Content Control: This feature allows users to adjust the level of sensitive content they see in Reels, Explore, and other sections of Instagram.

Read More: Instagram Tests Dislike Button For Comments

Steps to Reduce Disturbing Content on Your Instagram Feed

To limit exposure to sensitive material, you can adjust Instagram’s Sensitive Content Control settings. Follow these steps:

Pre-requisites Before Adjusting Settings

Ensure your Instagram app is updated to the latest version.
You must be 18 or older to increase your sensitivity level.
Users aged 13-15 require parental permission to modify these settings.

How to Adjust Sensitive Content Control on Instagram

Open Instagram: Launch the Instagram app on your device.
Go to Your Profile: Tap your profile picture or select Profile in the bottom right corner.
Access Settings: Tap the Menu (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner.
Select Content Preferences: Navigate to Content Preferences and then tap Sensitive Content.
Adjust Sensitivity Level:
- Select Less to see fewer sensitive posts.
- Select More (available for users over 18) to allow additional sensitive content.
Confirm Changes: Tap Confirm to save your preferences.

These settings affect content recommendations across Explore, Search, Reels, comments, and suggested accounts. However, they do not override Instagram’s Community Standards—posts violating these guidelines will still be removed automatically.

Additional Ways to Customize Your Instagram Feed

Beyond adjusting Sensitive Content Control, here are other methods to further filter your feed:

1. Report Inappropriate Content

If you come across content that you believe is disturbing or offensive, you can report it:

Tap the three dots on the top right of the post.
Select Report and choose the most relevant reason.
Instagram’s moderators will review and take appropriate action.

2. Unfollow or Mute Accounts

If certain accounts frequently post unwanted content, consider:

Unfollowing them to remove their posts from your feed.
Muting them to stop seeing their content without unfollowing.

3. Use the “Not Interested” Option

For posts recommended by Instagram that you don’t want to see:

Tap the three dots on the post.
Select Not Interested to train the algorithm to show more relevant content.

4. Restrict or Block Users

If someone repeatedly shares disturbing content:

Use the Restrict option to limit their interaction with you.
Use the Block option to remove them entirely from your Instagram experience.

Ensuring a Safe and Enjoyable Instagram Experience

By taking control of your feed through Sensitive Content Control, reporting tools, and customization features, you can significantly reduce exposure to disturbing or inappropriate content.

Regularly updating your settings and reporting inappropriate material contributes to a safer Instagram community for everyone.

If you found this guide helpful, share it with your friends to help them create a more personalized and secure Instagram experience!