Are you tired of Instagram shoving Meta’s AI features down your throat? Do you want to take back control of your Instagram experience? If so, you’re not alone. Many users are frustrated with the forced integration of Meta AI and are desperately seeking ways to disable it. In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to disable Meta AI on Instagram. I’ll also explain what happens when you do, so you can decide if it’s the right move for you. Let’s get started!
What is Meta AI on Instagram?
Before we dive into disabling it, let’s quickly cover what Meta AI actually is on Instagram. Meta AI refers to the artificial intelligence technology developed by Meta (formerly Facebook) that powers various features and algorithms on Instagram.
Some examples of where you’ll find Meta AI on Instagram include:
- Content recommendations in your feed, Explore page, Reels, etc.
- Video recommendations
- Search suggestions as you type in the search bar
- The AI chatbot that can answer questions in Instagram DMs
Meta AI uses machine learning to analyze your activity, interests, and engagement to personalize your Instagram experience. While this can be convenient, many users feel it’s an invasion of privacy and would prefer more control.
Why Disable Meta AI on Instagram?
There are a few key reasons why you may want to turn off Meta AI on your Instagram account:
Privacy Concerns
Some users are uncomfortable with the amount of data Meta AI collects and how it’s used to shape what you see on Instagram. Disabling it can help increase privacy.
Explore New Content
With Meta AI disabled, you’ll see more random, diverse content rather than an endlessly personalized feed. This allows for more exploration and discovery.
Avoid Meta’s Influence
As Meta continues to make Instagram more AI/ads focused, many just want a simple, old-school Instagram experience without the AI interference.
How To Disable Meta AI On Instagram?
Unfortunately, Instagram does not currently offer an official way to fully disable Meta AI. No simple toggle exists in your settings. However, there are still a few workarounds you can try:
Option 1: Use an Older Version of the Instagram App
One way to avoid Meta AI is to use an older version of the Instagram app before the latest AI features were integrated.
For iPhone:
- Delete the current Instagram app
- Go to a trusted app archive site and download the Instagram IPA file from late March/early April 2024
- Use a tool like iMazing or Sideloadly to install the older IPA on your iPhone
For Android:
- Uninstall your current Instagram app
- Find an APK mirror site and download the Instagram APK from late March/early April
- Enable installing from Unknown Sources in Settings > Security
- Install the older Instagram APK file
Option 2: Provide Feedback to Instagram
Another option is to request an official “Remove Meta AI” toggle in your Instagram settings:
- Open Instagram and go to your profile
- Tap Settings > Help > Report a Problem
- Explain that you want the ability to disable Meta AI and all of its features
- The more people that submit this feedback, the more likely Instagram is to add the feature
Option 3: Use Instagram Web
Since Meta AI is primarily on the Instagram mobile apps currently, using Instagram.com in a browser can help avoid it for now.
However, it’s likely Meta will eventually integrate more AI into the web version too. So this is just a temporary workaround.
What Happens When You Disable Meta AI?
By disabling or avoiding Meta AI on Instagram, your overall experience will change in a few key ways:
No More Personalized Feed
Without Meta AI, your Instagram feed, Explore page, Reels, etc. will no longer be personalized based on your activity. You’ll likely see more random, diverses content.
Generic Search Results
Search results in the Instagram search bar will be more generic when you remove Meta AI’s influence, rather than personalized suggestions.
No AI Chatbot Responses
If you disable Meta AI, the AI chatbot in Instagram DMs will no longer work and you won’t see any AI-generated responses.
More Control (At the Cost of Convenience)
Overall, you’ll have more control over what you see on Instagram without Meta AI’s algorithms. However, you’ll also lose out on some of the personalized convenience it provides.
Conclusion
While Meta is pushing AI integrations more and more, many Instagram users aren’t happy about it. Fortunately, by using older app versions or providing feedback, you can still turn off or avoid Meta’s AI for now.
Disabling Meta AI will make your Instagram experience less personalized and more random. But for privacy-conscious people who value control over convenience, it may be worth it.
Just keep in mind that Meta seems set on making AI a core part of Instagram and its other apps going forward. So pushback from users may only keep AI-free Instagram alive for so long.
Will you be turning off Meta’s AI technology on Instagram? Let me know in the comments!