In the past, many individuals were eager to create accounts on Facebook or Instagram. The ability to connect with family and friends has been a significant factor in the popularity of both platforms. However, in recent years, both Instagram and Facebook have undergone significant changes, albeit not necessarily for the better. Meta’s social media platforms are gradually losing their appeal, largely due to what many users are now referring to as a “trash heap” of feeds. Unfortunately, this decline in quality feeds is leading to a decrease in users for both Instagram and Facebook.
Facebook and Instagram reportedly losing users over feed quality concerns
Meta recently reported its FY 2026 Q3 earnings and revealed that daily active users on its social media platforms have decreased by 20 million in this quarter. While this number doesn’t solely reflect the user base of Facebook and Instagram, it does indicate that users are dissatisfied with the content in their feeds.
If you’re one of the many Instagram and Facebook users feeling overwhelmed by low-quality content in your feed, there is some positive news for you.
Meta is actively working to improve the quality of both Facebook and Instagram feeds. So, what steps is Meta taking to address this issue? The company is cracking down on content aggregators as part of a new Instagram policy.
Penalizing content aggregators as a strategy to enhance social media feeds
As part of this initiative, Instagram’s recommendation algorithm will penalize accounts that primarily repost photos or carousel posts without significant edits. This move aims to give more visibility to creators who provide original content with their unique perspective. Accounts that engage in low-effort reposts, such as simple reuploads or minor modifications, are likely to see decreased reach, particularly in areas like the Discover tab. Meta is committed to offering users more meaningful content in their feeds, starting with Instagram. It remains to be seen whether similar measures will be implemented on Facebook.