Instagram’s sensitive and political content settings, explained

The sensitive content setting

This controls how much potentially upsetting or offensive content Instagram suggests to you: things like violence, sexually suggestive posts, vaping and tobacco, cosmetic procedures, and products sold on health claims. It applies in Explore, Search, Reels, comments, hashtag pages, accounts Instagram suggests you follow, and the suggested posts in your feed.

1. In the Instagram app, tap your profile picture at the bottom right.
2. Tap the menu (three lines) at the top right.
3. Tap Content preferences, then Sensitive content.
4. Tap Select next to Less, then Confirm.

The default for adults is Standard. Teen Accounts start on a stricter setting, and teens need a parent’s or guardian’s permission to choose More.

Content that breaks Instagram’s rules outright is supposed to be removed, so this setting is about what’s allowed but not for everyone.

The political content setting

Meta counts content that mentions governments, elections or social topics as political. Since 2025, Instagram may recommend political posts from accounts you don’t follow, based on what you engage with. To stop that:

1. In the Instagram app, tap your profile picture at the bottom right.
2. Tap the menu at the top right.
3. Tap Content preferences, then Political content.
4. Switch off Suggest political content.

Ads about social issues, elections or politics are handled separately, in your ad preferences. Threads has its own version of this setting (see Threads’ hidden words and political content), and so does Facebook.

What these settings don’t do

Both are worth switching. But they’re narrower than their names suggest:

• Accounts you follow are untouched. Instagram says the sensitive content setting only limits content from accounts you don’t follow, and the political setting is about suggestions. If a friend, a news account or a creator you follow posts about the election or a violent news story, you’ll still see it.
• Instagram decides what counts. “Social topics” is broad, and you can’t say “no national politics, but local news is fine”.
• They reduce, not remove. Each one shapes recommendations. Neither promises a feed free of a topic.
• They’re app settings. Instagram’s help center gives the steps for the app only.
• They’re about these categories only. There’s no setting for sad news, rage-bait or anything else you’d rather not see.

For a fuller break from the news cycle, see how to take a break from politics.

Questions