Taming the Algorithm: How to Hide Suggested Posts on Facebook

So, you’re tired of Facebook shoving content down your throat that you didn’t ask for? The never-ending stream of “Suggested Posts” – those sometimes-relevant, often-irrelevant, and occasionally downright bizarre recommendations cluttering your feed – can be a real nuisance. Fear not, because reclaiming control of your Facebook experience is entirely possible.

The short, sweet answer is this: You can’t completely eliminate suggested posts on Facebook, but you can significantly reduce their frequency and improve their relevance. You achieve this through a combination of manually hiding posts, adjusting your News Feed Preferences, and fine-tuning your ad settings. Let’s break down how to do just that.

Mastering the Art of the Hide

The most immediate and effective way to combat unwanted suggested posts is by directly hiding them. This tells Facebook that you’re not interested in that type of content, providing valuable feedback to the algorithm (eventually).

Hiding Individual Posts: One Click at a Time

1. Identify the offending post: Scroll through your News Feed until you encounter a “Suggested Post.”
2. Click the three dots: In the upper-right corner of the post, you’ll find a three-dot menu icon (…). Click it.
3. Choose “Hide Post”: From the dropdown menu, select “Hide Post.” This immediately removes the post from your feed.
4. Provide Feedback (Optional but Recommended): After hiding the post, Facebook usually asks why you hid it. Options include “Not relevant,” “I see too many of these posts,” or “Offensive.” Providing this feedback helps Facebook learn your preferences and reduces the likelihood of similar posts appearing in the future.

Telling Facebook You Don’t Like the Suggestion: Stop the Source!

1. Follow steps 1 and 2 from above.
2. Select “Why am I seeing this post?”: This option provides insight into why Facebook showed you the post and offers further control.
3. Mute the Page/Friend/Group: You can choose to unfollow the page, unfollow the friend who liked it, or leave the group that’s the root cause. This significantly reduces related suggestions.

News Feed Preferences: Your Algorithm Control Panel

Facebook’s News Feed Preferences offer a more holistic approach to shaping your feed.

Prioritizing Friends and Pages

1. Access News Feed Preferences: Navigate to “Settings & Privacy” (the downward-facing arrow in the upper-right corner of Facebook) and then select “News Feed Preferences.” Alternatively, you can often find a link to “News Feed Preferences” directly after hiding a suggested post.
2. Prioritize Who to See First: Click on “Prioritize who to see first.” This allows you to select specific friends and pages whose posts you always want to see at the top of your feed. Choosing your closest contacts and favorite pages ensures that their content takes precedence over suggested posts.
3. Unfollow People and Pages to Reduce Distractions: Go back to the “News Feed Preferences” menu and click “Unfollow people and Pages to Hide Their Posts”. This effectively mutes their content from your feed without unfriending or unliking them.

Snooze Functionality: A Temporary Respite

Similar to unfollowing, the snooze function provides a temporary break from specific people, pages, or groups. When you “snooze” someone for 30 days, their posts won’t appear in your feed. It’s a great option if you need a break from a friend’s overly enthusiastic posting or a page’s constant promotions without permanently cutting ties. You can activate the snooze functionality from the same three-dot menu on any post.

Ad Preferences: Targeted Content, Targeted Control

While suggested posts aren’t technically ads, they are influenced by your ad preferences. Controlling your ad settings can indirectly impact the types of suggested posts you see.

Accessing Your Ad Preferences

1. Navigate to Ad Preferences: Go to “Settings & Privacy” and then select “Settings.” In the left-hand menu, click “Ads.”
2. Explore the Categories: You’ll find several categories, including “Advertisers,” “Ad Topics,” and “Ad Settings.”

Fine-Tuning Your Interests

Within “Ad Topics,” you can view and edit the interests that Facebook has associated with your profile. Removing irrelevant or unwanted interests can help refine the types of suggested posts you see.

Controlling Ad Settings

The “Ad Settings” section allows you to control how Facebook uses your data to show you ads. Specifically:

• Ads based on data from partners: Turn this off to prevent Facebook from using data collected by third-party websites and apps to target you with ads (and potentially influence suggested posts).
• Ads shown off of Facebook: This controls whether your Facebook activity is used to show you ads on other websites and apps. Disabling this can further limit the influence of external data on your Facebook experience.

Third-Party Tools and Extensions: Caution Advised

Numerous browser extensions and third-party tools claim to block or hide suggested posts on Facebook. While some may be effective, it’s crucial to exercise caution when using these tools. Many require access to your Facebook account and data, raising potential privacy concerns. Always research the tool’s reputation and read reviews before installing anything.

The Ongoing Battle: Algorithm Adaptation

It’s important to understand that hiding suggested posts is an ongoing process. Facebook’s algorithm is constantly evolving, and the platform will continue to suggest content based on your activity. Regularly reviewing your News Feed Preferences and hiding unwanted posts is essential to maintaining a cleaner and more relevant Facebook experience.

By consistently implementing these strategies, you can reclaim control of your News Feed and significantly reduce the number of suggested posts you see. It’s a process of continuous refinement, but the reward is a more enjoyable and less cluttered Facebook experience.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I permanently block all suggested posts on Facebook?

No, unfortunately, there’s no magic switch to completely eliminate suggested posts. Facebook wants you to discover new content and keeps pushing suggestions. The methods described above help minimize them and tailor them to your interests.

2. Why am I seeing so many suggested posts lately?

Facebook’s algorithm is constantly being tweaked. They might be testing different strategies for displaying content, which can lead to a temporary surge in suggested posts. Also, consider if you’ve recently interacted with new types of content or pages, as this will influence the algorithm.

3. Does hiding a suggested post affect what my friends see?

No, hiding a suggested post only affects your own News Feed. Your friends won’t be affected by your actions.

4. Will unfollowing a Page prevent me from seeing ads from that Page?

No, unfollowing a Page only removes its organic content (posts) from your News Feed. You may still see ads from that Page, as ads are managed separately. You need to specifically block the page from the ad setting to stop showing ads from them.

5. How often should I review my News Feed Preferences?

It’s a good idea to review your News Feed Preferences every few weeks or months, especially after major changes to Facebook’s interface or algorithm. Regular maintenance ensures that your preferences remain aligned with your evolving interests.

6. What’s the difference between “Unfollow” and “Unfriend”?

“Unfollow” simply removes someone’s posts from your News Feed without unfriending them. You remain connected, but you won’t see their content unless you visit their profile directly. “Unfriend” removes them as a connection entirely.

7. Does Facebook use my browsing history outside of Facebook to suggest posts?

Yes, if you’ve enabled ad tracking or have used Facebook’s social plugins on other websites, Facebook can use your browsing history to personalize your ads and potentially influence suggested posts. You can limit this through your ad settings.

8. Are suggested posts considered ads?

Technically, no. Suggested posts are algorithmically generated recommendations based on your activity and interests, while ads are paid promotions. However, both are designed to capture your attention and promote content, so they can feel similar.

9. I keep seeing suggested posts from the same Page even after hiding them multiple times. Why?

This can happen if the Page is highly relevant to your interests (according to Facebook) or if the Page is running a particularly aggressive ad campaign. Try blocking the page directly within the ad preferences, or continue reporting the suggested posts as irrelevant.

10. Will blocking a user stop me from seeing suggested posts they’re involved with?

Yes, blocking a user will prevent you from seeing their posts, comments, and any content they’re associated with, including suggested posts.

11. Can I report a suggested post as inappropriate?

Yes, if a suggested post violates Facebook’s Community Standards (e.g., hate speech, violence, harassment), you can report it. Click the three-dot menu and select “Report Post.”

12. Does using Facebook on different devices affect my suggested posts?

Yes, your activity on all devices where you’re logged into Facebook contributes to your overall profile and influences the algorithm. Be consistent with your preferences across all devices.