GoKawiilInstagram's Mosseri says turning off algorithm cuts engagement by half
Adam Mosseri told an Australian press briefing that Instagram users who switch to a chronological feed instead of the algorithmic one see engagement drop by roughly 50%, with satisfaction scores dropping sharply too. He made the comments as Australia weighs a Digital Duty of Care bill that would require platforms to prompt users to disable ranking algorithms.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Mosseri frames reduced engagement and time on platform as a loss for users, but that is precisely the outcome the proposed legislation is designed to achieve, since regulators view heavy engagement itself as a potential harm. His comments also sit awkwardly next to Meta's other public claims that AI-driven recommendations are successfully increasing time spent on Instagram, exposing a contradiction in how the company frames engagement as either a benefit or a risk depending on the audience.
- Mosseri says chronological feeds cut engagement by up to 50% and tank satisfaction scores.
- Australia's draft Digital Duty of Care bill would require prompts letting users turn off ranking algorithms.
- Meta's messaging is inconsistent: it separately touts AI for boosting time spent on Instagram as a positive.
Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport — If debates over algorithmic feeds and 'time on platform' have you rethinking your scroll habits, Cal Newport's Digital Minimalism is the perfect companion read. It lays out a practical philosophy for deciding which apps actually earn a place in your life, rather than letting a ranking system decide for you.
See Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: thenextweb.com — Ana Maria Constantin, 2026-09-11
Published there as: “Instagram's head says engagement falls by half without the algorithm”
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