Instagram is set to eliminate a feature that has frustrated many users, as announced by the platform’s CEO through social media. The social media giant will no longer refresh the feed automatically when the app is opened after a brief period of inactivity. This change allows users to view the posts that first appear on their screens without interruption. This announcement follows Instagram’s confirmation that it intentionally reduces the quality of stories and Reels that receive low view counts to allocate computational resources to content that attracts larger audiences.
No More Automatic Feed Refreshing on Instagram
In a recent Ask Me Anything (AMA) session (via @_blunderchief), Adam Mosseri addressed a question regarding an unnoticed change on the platform. The head of Instagram explained that the company has ceased a function known internally as a “rug pull,” which previously caused the feed to refresh automatically upon entering the app.
Mosseri noted that this feature was designed to load new content and briefly display previously downloaded posts while the app was loading. Although the intention was to enhance user engagement, Mosseri acknowledged that it often proved “annoying,” as interesting content could shift and vanish from view, compelling users to scroll down to find it again.
Fortunately, this annoyance should now be a thing of the past, as confirmed by Mosseri. The platform will now preload content without displaying it until users choose to scroll. The newly loaded posts will then appear beneath the existing content.
While this modification may lead to a decline in engagement metrics for the platform, it is ultimately aimed at delivering a more satisfying experience for the typical user.
