How to get political news on Instagram

Instagram and Threads announced they would stop proactively recommending political, alarming news and politics-focused creators and journalists gearing up for a crucial election year.
While users will still be allowed to follow accounts that post about political and social issues, accounts posting such content will not be recommended and content posted by nonpolitical accounts that is political in nature or includes social commentary also won’t be recommended, Meta said.

[@couchpotatoes5158]

People really shouldn’t be getting political content from social media. The comments on instagram are completely unhinged and sometimes downright harmful

[@deadlock_problem]

Yeah we should get it from reddit like you oh wait...

[@insertjoke]

@@deadlock_problemwhen did he say he got political content from Reddit? Also this is generally good. I’m glad to see Instagram trying to stop people from getting sucked into echo chambers.

[@frxsty2585]

@@deadlock_problemyou should research it yourself

[@thewizardcat9934]

You have a point, but its also true that many independent media who are covering not mainstream events depend quite a lot of social media to spread their information and such

[@deadlock_problem]

@@insertjoke so where do you get your biased political takes from? It's obvious dogshit since American democracy is among the worst in this world.

[@Burningbranch]

I'd much rather not see that content on Instagram because the comments and videos there are so hostile and unhinged. Its dramatically worse than it was like a year ago and KZbin is significantly calmer. I'd rather get political info from shorts on here. Or just straight up get newsletters or something else with no comment function 😅

[@hackerkiller2131]

Get info from shorts? God almighty

[@Burningbranch]

@@hackerkiller2131 yeah totally. Credible news sources make KZbin videos and Shorts that get updated regularly. Sorry, I don't read the morning paper or watch the evening news like it's 2002. Just use critical thinking while you watch and it'll be okay.

[@spynix0718]

As much as I agree with this (Dear God, I agree), I'd still keep it off because I don't want to accidentally create an echo chamber for myself. Although, I don't use Instagram reels.

[@Burningbranch]

@@spynix0718 I see what you mean and I agree. No matter what your news will be a bit skewed just because of how the suggestion algorithms in social media apps work. I like getting info from shorts because it's fast but you have to take it all with a grain of salt. Especially if you start seeing the same accounts over and over which does happen a lot with KZbin I'll be honest.

[@taradid409]

I have Instagram on a browser so I can't even add these features but are the contents extremely more violin comments on KZbin or Facebook and I don't normally see a lot of vile comments just jerky comments but not in my accounts because I limit who can make comments on my accounts.

[@blank6989]

Step 1: dont

[@panampace]

Ah yes, “see political content on instagram from accounts I don’t follow”, something me and everyone else on the planet totally wanted to do

[@anthonyhelms3917]

Ah yes the inability to handle opinions other than your own

[@squi12elnuts]

You just did the exact same thing

[@ImMonoToast]

@@anthonyhelms3917 Let me know when politics stops being a reality tv show then we can talk

[@PingSharp]

​@@anthonyhelms3917sadly, many people can't even handle their own political opinions

[@lukewarm6973]

​@@anthonyhelms3917 Or maybe it's that I have to see political propaganda from a side I know is trying to bias me

[@bensteinhauser784]

I get why this is a setting, I don't get why it's the default setting and people weren't alerted to its creation.

[@GoombaTheCat]

It's how Facebook has always operated. Always and forever. That, and covertly adjusting the algorithm for groups of users while studying those users' behaviours. It's a creepy-as company. Not that Google and Apple are good, but Facebook has always been particularly awful.

[@sirderik]

"from account you don't follow" let that sink in.... From account you DON'T follow... Maybe there's are reasons for why they added this feature.

[@TheAndyDish]

Well it makes it more difficult to discover content like the Washington Post if they never show up on your feed in the first place. There's definitely a balance that I think hasn't been struck, between having some amount of political content that your viewers might enjoy and having some amount of protection against it.

[@oreo3169]

The problem is that it's on default, many don't like that.

[@Synthesia-ef7hj]

​then they can turn it on???​@@oreo3169

[@6BlackFox9]

I WISH I could turn off political ads on KZbin. Bring the feature Google

[@pjplaysgaming367]

I get ads for whatever the hell trumps new book is called 💀

[@HeydenHarvey]

​@@pjplaysgaming367 half the ads I get are Biden fundraising ads

[@weepingdiscord6969]

@@HeydenHarveyI get neither, almost like youtube relates your search feed to what you click and watch

[@Windermed]

@@HeydenHarveyI see more Trump ads than Biden’s. I guess they’re that desperate this year lol

[@eddiepeach3975]

To my homies in Canada, the setting is titled "suggested content" not content preferences

[@E3ECO]

Good lord, the last thing I want to see is political content on a social media platform. I'm sure that's reliable!

[@seyamrahman1002]

More reliable than cnn or fox, atleast they criticize war crimes

[@mr.markofski4267]

The political content I see on Insta was *unhinged and schizophrenic* I still see this content 💀

[@eeveegaming4798]

Nah this is good. People should not be getting their politics from Social Media

[@WildKardRuss]

fr

[@MintSergal]

Where should we get it from then?

[@randomoneforstuff3696]

@@MintSergalNews outlets lol. Where did you think? The best ones are the Associated Press and Reuters.

[@garethmcguinness377]

​@@randomoneforstuff3696those are great and i'd add NPR & PBS as well, people sleep on these because they're publicly funded, but all that means is that they're way less beholden to advertisers I.e. generally less sensationalism designed to keep up platform engagement

[@GoombaTheCat]

Except that they'll still be seeing content from channels they DO follow, so it will just be more echo chamber-y for the unhinged.

[@victor3859]

Really enjoy your guys news shorts, followed you on instagram!

[@meyer6891]

I bet we'll start seeing a lot more of that political content that doesn't appear as political content at first glance, since it may evade that setting

[@taradid409]

If you start getting content the parameters of Instagram then Instagram has failed and you should probably leave it. If I get stuff I don't want I'm going to leave it I'm actually getting things I didn't sign up for I only wanted this stuff I signed up for.

[@XiRevsGD]

For me the option isn’t there. It just says sensitive content

[@grizzlychair]

Now why would I do this?

[@djrt8179]

2016-2023: SOCIAL MEDIA ALWAYS SHOWS US BAD THINGS AND NOW IM DEPRESSED. 2024: INSTAGRAM IS CENSORING THE THING THAT MAKES ME UPSET ALL THE TIME WTF

[@Pixelnetic]

That is such a great setting from Instagram . Like the best there is . I consider politics sometimes boring and tiring and with that I can just take a break

[@noahmcpherson1138]

It off by default wtf you talking about

[@limeslime711]

I’m a little worried that this will deepen social media bubbles, but it’s a nice feature for people who just don’t want to see political stuff.

[@Guy_Sandler]

Honestly all medias should have this option

[@jordanmacleod3688]

Isn’t this a violation of the equal opportunities clause?

[@joannachatwin8935]

I was looking for it until I realised im watching this on KZbin 😁

[@ryanalam5669]

Thank you for that, it’s important to be introduced to alternative perspectives and opinions.

[@user-golos]

instagram "alternative perspectives" is a cesspool full of either completely unhinged racism, sexism, homophobia, anti-semitism. I use the app and it runs on outrage through comments

[@folumb]

i've noticed that women tend to use tik tok/instagram more and men use YT shorts more.

[@beccalife275]

This setting is great in idea

[@seyamrahman1002]

And a covert way to filter real issues, you really trust facebook to decide what content is political? They will hide anything that criticizes certain groups

[@bgdojo]

The feature is working as intended

[@noonythegarchomp995]

youtube shorts: this has the least brain rot so i use it to watch comedy like politics (comedy is the only way your gonna make me listen to politics) Instagram:I use it to relax/brain rot, politics breaks that so no Tik tok: I don't have it I have standards

[@ItsjustSaddist]

Not people saying they shouldn’t get political content on social media while being on youtube watching political content 💀

[@LaCoalicion.]

LOL he forgot to delete the pr in the search bar.

[@tjviper1991]

And yes, Instagram did this at the dead of night in an update and didn't tell no one.

[@GoombaTheCat]

It's the Facebook way

[@DeerJerky]

actually.... I kinda like this change. I don't want to be reminded or told that the world is in shambles when I'm scrolling through meme pages

[@pjplaysgaming367]

Rfk…

[@keyemku6399]

Instagram removed the button because too many people were turning it off lol

[@faiths.4971]

Political content shouldn’t be consumed from social media

[@JamesSchulte]

Why would you want to see it?

[@batterydrain462]

this doesn't work anymore

[@20storiesunder]

Absolutely not, y'all can all chill.

[@legueu]

Maybe don't

[@conanladler3472]

I want this video to get more traction but I'm to tired to think of something clever so here is my minimal effort comment

[@MrRayhobbs]

I usually see porn,death and racism and throw some memes and cringe in there

[@robloxrack4]

I don’t wanna see political content on any social media im on tbh

[@Sugar3Glider]

No, this is *KZbin*

[@shadowsrose4978]

I want a setting that turns off all religious content so I dont have to hear BS about how watches on a beach prove god.

[@alexcrazy1492]

Nice sweater

[@imkt6072]

No thank you I prefer current version

[@joshuagibson6531]

How use KZbin only

[@Iulian.Dumitrascu]

On what day would you like us to schedule a public talk about this?

[@elysse3653]

not an option on iphone

[@technodruid]

But shit tagged political is toxic af

[@joshtruman377]

Imagine missing political bullshit when it leaves Ig 😂. That’s the most WaPo shit ever

[@beschutzer42]

Why would i want content from accounts i dont follow?

[@GummyDinosaursify]

But... why would you do this?

[@theskyknight4517]

i just dont want to see instagram

[@just-shaquille]

instagram comments are absolutely hilarious

[@jedd.0322]

Not even remotely bothered by that.

[@Lngbrdninjamasta]

Thank u I turned that off

[@giul_es]

Interesting, I don't know if this is due to me not being able to find the setting or me not living in the US, but I seem to not have this setting option. I wonder if this setting option is only a requirement on Instagram in the US

[@orofi5563]

same for me, i went to the comment section to ask if maybe EU members might be excluded from that

[@GoombaTheCat]

@@orofi5563Probably in as much as the EU has better regulations. I wouldn't be surprised if Facebook/Instagram/Meta are avoiding hot water from adding a setting to EU accounts without warning.

[@Joe_Monkey_Rogan]

@@GoombaTheCatbetter regulation=over rampant regulation. Thats why businesses doesnt thrive in the EU as well because of the bureaucratic regulatory bodies that have ridiculous regulations

[@AKUJU]

I don’t know if this got is South Indian or East African damn

[@TonkarzOfSolSystem]

Why the f would you want it back?

[@MarcusFigueras]

Not to be that person, but how do people say "we shouldnt be getting political content from social medias" and then turn around and wonder why echo chambers and radicalization happens

[@baconsir1159]

Social Media isn’t a reliable source of information my guy, the algorithm will just keep feeding you whatever you look into most

[@Windermed]

Social Media isn’t the best way to get information. There’s a more likely chance you’ll find misinformation from both sides (especially on Twitter nowadays) and it’s better to check back on reputable sites who are politically neutral.

[@fanaticanimefangirl]

Hmmmm

[@Da_Publick]

No political content means having a break from Sockpuppetry. _YAAAAY_ (waves arms like Kermit The Frog)

[@phill9238]

lol naw I’m good

[@Bxu021]

I use KZbin more so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@TheSlovo28]

Ew

[@rkivedior]

Doesn't that constitute as censorship?

[@Teneab]

Private corporations have a right to do that.

[@sondadir9205]

Censorship concerns a public authority, in the public square. A private platform acts according to its rules

[@Fr00stee]

no? Censorship only happens when a government or org limits the content available to people. This isn't censorship since it's an option you can toggle yourself on your own account and you can search for these accounts yourself even if the option is toggled, the accounts aren't gone.

[@jtowensbyiii6018]

Nope, you're not very smart 😂

[@thatdamncrow9197]

Lmfao first amendment only protects you from the government censoring you

[@garthreid7114]

☹️ shut up!

[@Dan-gj1hz]

Instagram is just a liberal echo-chamber for politics. Its bizarre

[@manakmishra]

The more you interact with a reel the more you get them

[@Deaf_Notes]

Your explore feed shows you similar content to ones that you've interacted with in the past so that's a you thing

[@IssAHeYY]

>instagram >liberal echo chamber Bro are you crazy ? Most of instagram users are literally right winger or closeted Nazis

[@thatdamncrow9197]

Wait till he finds out that echo chambers for every political party likely exists on instagram

[@deleted1905]

An echo chamber, as the previous replies have pointed out, that you have created. Also, as someone on there, I end up interacting with more conservative content sometimes, and it looks like a conservative echo chamber sometimes. It doesnt take a lot to take a step back, breathe, and understand you aren't the only person in the world.

[@footfucker6974]

W from Instagram I just wanna watch live leaks on it