Why Does My Instagram Feed Show Random Accounts And Can I Reset The Algorithm

If you've opened Instagram recently and found yourself scrolling past posts from strangers promoting weight loss teas, viral dance trends, or niche hobbyists you’ve never followed, you're not alone. The once-personalized feed of friends, family, and favorite creators now feels like a digital lottery of randomness. Many users are asking: Why does my Instagram feed show random accounts? And more importantly—can I reset the algorithm to get back control?

The answer lies in how Instagram’s recommendation engine works. Over the past few years, Instagram has shifted from a social network focused on people you follow to a content discovery platform driven by machine learning. While this change helps surface new ideas and trending content, it often comes at the cost of personal relevance. Understanding the mechanics behind this shift is the first step toward regaining a feed that reflects your actual interests.

How Instagram’s Algorithm Decides What You See

Instagram doesn’t operate on chronological order. Instead, every post in your feed is selected by an algorithm designed to predict what will keep you engaged. This system evaluates hundreds of signals to determine which content appears at the top of your feed. These include:

• Your past interactions (likes, saves, shares, comments)
• The type of content you engage with most (videos, reels, carousels)
• How quickly you scroll past certain posts
• Time spent viewing specific accounts or topics
• Posts frequently shared by people in your network
• Popularity and virality of content across the platform

When you interact even briefly with a post—say, pausing on a reel about hiking gear—the algorithm interprets that as interest. It then serves similar content, even if you didn’t explicitly follow those accounts. This is why someone who occasionally watches cooking videos might suddenly see chefs, recipe pages, and kitchen gadget influencers they’ve never searched for.

“Instagram's algorithm prioritizes engagement over familiarity. If a viral post from an unknown account gets high interaction, it’s likely to appear in your feed—even if you have zero connection to the creator.” — Maya Tran, Social Media Data Analyst at Digital Insights Lab

Why Random Accounts Appear in Your Feed

The appearance of unfamiliar accounts isn't a glitch—it's by design. Instagram aims to increase user retention by introducing fresh content. However, this strategy often leads to frustration when the balance tips too far from personal connections. Here are the main reasons random accounts populate your feed:

1. Engagement-Based Recommendations

If you like or comment on a post from a non-followed account—even accidentally—Instagram assumes you want more of that content. One interaction can trigger a wave of similar recommendations.

2. Trending Reels and Viral Content

Reels are heavily promoted by the algorithm. A video going viral in another country may appear in your feed based on topic similarity, audio usage, or hashtags—even if the account has nothing to do with your usual interests.

3. Follows and Interactions from Close Contacts

The algorithm monitors activity from accounts you interact with frequently. If your best friend starts following eco-friendly fashion brands, you may begin seeing those brands too, under the assumption that you share overlapping interests.

4. Location and Language Signals

Instagram uses your location and language settings to suggest locally relevant content. Traveling abroad or changing your app language can temporarily flood your feed with region-specific accounts.

5. Shadow Recommendations via Explore and Search

Even searches in the Explore tab influence your main feed. Typing “vegan recipes” into search—even once—can lead to weeks of plant-based food content from accounts you don’t follow.

Tip: Avoid engaging with irrelevant content—even out of curiosity. A single like or extended view can reshape your feed for days.

Can You Reset the Instagram Algorithm?

There is no official \"reset button\" for Instagram’s algorithm. However, you can significantly influence it through consistent behavior and intentional adjustments. Think of it less as resetting and more as retraining.

The algorithm learns continuously. That means negative signals—such as ignoring, hiding, or reporting content—are just as powerful as positive ones. By sending clear feedback, you can gradually steer your feed back toward meaningful content.

Step-by-Step Guide to Reclaim Your Feed

1. Pause and Observe: For one full day, scroll without liking, commenting, or saving anything. This reduces noise while you plan your reset.
2. Unfollow Inactive or Irrelevant Accounts: Go to your following list and remove accounts that no longer align with your interests.
3. Engage Intentionally: For the next 7 days, only interact with posts from people you care about or content you truly enjoy.
4. Use the 'Not Interested' Feature: When a random post appears, tap the three dots and select “Not interested.” This tells the algorithm to reduce similar content.
5. Clear Your Search History: Go to Settings > Security > Search History > Clear All. This removes old queries influencing recommendations.
6. Reset Topic Preferences: In the Explore tab, long-press on suggested topics and tap “Not interested” to remove entire categories.
7. Follow 10–15 High-Value Accounts Daily: Actively follow creators whose content you want to see more of. This reinforces new preferences.

Within two weeks of consistent behavior, most users report a noticeable improvement in feed relevance.

Checklist: How to Minimize Random Content on Instagram

• ✅ Unfollow irrelevant or spammy accounts
• ✅ Use “Not Interested” on random posts
• ✅ Clear search history monthly
• ✅ Avoid engaging with viral but uninteresting content
• ✅ Follow more accounts you genuinely admire
• ✅ Disable “Suggested Posts” at the bottom of your feed (in Settings)
• ✅ Spend more time interacting with close friends’ posts

Do’s and Don’ts of Managing Your Instagram Feed

Do	Don’t
Like and comment on posts from people you know	Double-tap every reel out of habit
Save content you want to see more of	Search random topics just to browse
Use “See Fewer Posts Like This” regularly	Let your Explore page fill with unrelated topics
Review suggested posts and hide irrelevant ones	Ignore algorithmic changes hoping they’ll fix themselves

A Real Example: How Sarah Regained Control of Her Feed

Sarah, a freelance graphic designer from Portland, noticed her Instagram feed had become dominated by fitness influencers and parenting blogs—despite not having children or being active in fitness communities. She realized it started after she liked a friend’s post about postpartum recovery and watched a few yoga reels during a stressful week.

Determined to fix it, she spent a weekend unfollowing over 50 irrelevant accounts, clearing her search history, and using the “Not interested” option on every random post. She then followed 20 design studios, typography artists, and creative workshops. Within ten days, her feed transformed. Today, 90% of her content comes from creatives in her field, and suggested posts are closely aligned with design inspiration.

“It felt overwhelming at first,” she said, “but treating my feed like a curated space—not a passive stream—made all the difference.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Does deleting my Instagram app reset the algorithm?

No. Simply uninstalling and reinstalling the app won’t reset the algorithm. Your behavioral data is stored on Instagram’s servers, not locally. However, taking a break from the app and returning with intentional engagement habits can help retrain the system over time.

How long does it take to reset the Instagram algorithm?

Most users see meaningful changes within 7 to 14 days of consistent behavior. Full recalibration—where your feed consistently reflects your true interests—can take up to 30 days, depending on previous engagement patterns.

Can I turn off suggested posts completely?

You can’t disable suggested posts entirely, but you can minimize them. After the last post from an account you follow, you’ll see a divider labeled “Suggested Posts.” Tap the three dots next to it and choose “Turn Off Suggested Posts.” Note: This setting may reset after updates, so check it periodically.

Conclusion: Take Back Control of Your Experience

Your Instagram feed should reflect your world—not a random assortment of viral trends. While the algorithm is powerful, it’s not unstoppable. With deliberate actions, you can reshape it into a tool that inspires, informs, and connects rather than distracts and overwhelms.

Start today: unfollow one irrelevant account, hide a suggested post, or follow a creator you admire. Small choices compound into big changes. The algorithm listens—every scroll, every tap, every pause. Make each one count.

💬 Have you successfully reshaped your Instagram feed? Share your strategy in the comments—your tip could help someone regain control of their digital space.