New York, United States – Instagram announced on Friday that it will no longer be proactively recommending political content on its platform, as well as its text-based app called Threads. This decision has led to concerns among news and politics-focused creators and journalists, especially with a crucial election year approaching.

While users will still have the option to follow accounts that discuss political and social issues, Instagram will no longer recommend content from these accounts. Additionally, content posted by non-political accounts but with political or social commentary will also not be recommended, according to Meta.

The company also stated that it will not show users posts focused on laws, elections, or social issues from accounts those users do not follow. Meta’s spokesperson, Dani Lever, mentioned that this decision expands on years of work based on user feedback.

This new approach means that users will be less likely to encounter political content or accounts on Instagram’s “Explore” page, Reels, and the suggested-users-to-follow box. It also applies to Threads, which means that politics will not be recommended to users’ feeds on the app.

The change has been met with frustration from political strategists, content creators, and journalists, who believe that the decision will restrict crucial conversations around political issues during a pivotal election. Many worry that the restriction on political content could lead to voters being less educated on important issues.

The impact of these changes is expected to affect both liberal and conservative creators on the platform. Some voiced concerns that the move may inadvertently benefit right-wing influencers who are adept at avoiding restrictions by not overtly posting about politics.

Furthermore, podcaster Sari Beth Rosenberg raised concerns that the changes could penalize and restrict important discussions around public health and the ongoing pandemic.

Meta has advised professional accounts that have recently posted political content to check their eligibility for recommendation, and they can edit or remove political posts or appeal the company’s decision.

As the platform continues to grapple with the definition and handling of political content, the implications of these changes remain a source of contention among creators, journalists, and content consumers alike.