Perhaps you’re among the millions who spend a few hours each day scrolling through their “For You” feed on TikTok. This feed, as you may know, is tailored to your preferences to deliver content you enjoy. However, sometimes you might wish to start afresh. Here’s how you can do it!
Concealing the Unwanted Stream
I stumbled upon a tip I hadn’t known about before, thanks to the folks over at Tom’s Guide (where I used to work), and I’m eager to share it with you. The concept is straightforward: clear your TikTok feed to essentially reset the algorithm from scratch. This algorithm operates based on the content you engage with most: the videos you spend the most time on, like, or share. Each time you perform one of these actions, you prompt TikTok to show you more of the same type of content.
Even if you’re just watching, the algorithm is quite adept at detecting the videos you watch repeatedly, those you pause on, or those that intrigue you enough to check out the creator’s profile.
A Fresh Start
It can become problematic. For instance, if one day you develop a sudden interest in tractors and watch and like a slew of tractor videos, TikTok might suddenly flood your feed with tractor content, even if you’re over it! Another example: you love hamsters, and TikTok keeps showing you hamster videos, but what if your pet hamster just passed away… In such instances, resetting your feed can be a practical solution to stop receiving these kinds of videos.
Then, there’s the most common scenario: your feed is filled with risqué content. What if your partner, or worse, your child asks to borrow your TikTok… You’re busted! In that case, you need to reset your feed quickly before lending out your phone!
So, How Do You Do It?
It’s really simple; just follow these steps:
1. Open TikTok.
2. Tap on the Profile
icon at the bottom right.
3. Click on the menu at the top right (the three lines, also known as the burger menu
).
4. Select Settings and privacy
.
5. Go to Content preferences
.
6. Tap on Refresh your For You feed
.
7. Click Continue
.
And there you have it! Your “For You” feed is updated and reset.
Now, be mindful of what you watch, and try to steer clear of lingering on videos of tractors, hamsters, or… that other topic I mentioned earlier!