Instagram today introduced a way to mute accounts, giving users a way to continue following accounts without seeing their posts all the time.Muted accounts will not be made aware that theyve been muted, and users can unmute accounts at any time.
Users can still see posts on the muted accounts profile page and get notified about comments or posts theyre tagged in.Users can mute accounts by tapping the in the corner of the post and choosing between muting posts, stories, or posts and stories.First and foremost, this continues Instagrams effort to block bullying and harassment on the social network.
While users have had the ability to block accounts for a long time, muting is a next step in blocking out someone without any of the consequences that might come from blocking them.This could also come in handy for folks going through a break-up or some other social split, as they dont necessarily want to see every single post from their ex but dont want to be seen unfollowing them either.Of course, the broader demographic will simply have more control over Instagrams algorithmic feed, which prioritizes accounts and posts it thinks you will like (read: promotes engagement at all costs).The algorithmic feed has added a layer of complexity to Instagram, making users think more cautiously about the way they throw around likes.
Posts, and accounts, that you like may very well get top billing in your feed because of it, even if you only liked the post to show friends some love.Muting gives users a bit more control over what they see regardless of what theyve liked or what Instagrams algorithm deems relevant.