Instagram will no longer annoyingly refresh every time you're about to view an interesting post

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Instagram has finally put an end to its frustrating auto-refresh “feature,” and for many, it’s about time. This secret update gives users a little more control over their scrolling.

 

The feature, internally nicknamed “rug pull,” would reload users’ feeds automatically whenever they reopened the app, often making posts they were interested in vanish before they had a chance to like or comment—essentially the equivalent of trying to grab a cup of coffee, only to have someone yank it away just as you reach for it.

 

According to Instagram head Adam Mosseri, who spoke about the change during an Ask Me Anything (AMA) session on his Instagram Stories, this function, no matter how grating, was no accidental glitch. Rather, it was a deliberate design meant to boost engagement by ensuring new content was constantly available as soon as users reopened the app. The downside? It often led to users losing track of content they actually wanted to interact with.

 

 

   

 

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Mosseri explained that Instagram initially kept this feature for two reasons: to improve load times and to increase user engagement.

 

When users reopened the app, Instagram would first display something that was already downloaded, like a Reel they had started watching. Once new content was loaded, it would push that content out—which was beneficial for Instagram’s metrics but much less so for users who felt they were constantly missing out on posts.

 

Mosseri didn’t hold back on acknowledging the frustration this caused.He called the feature “REALLY annoying” (twice!) and emphasized that the Meta-owned social media platform understood why users found it frustrating. 

 

“We actually took a little bit of an engagement hit for this, but it is a much better experience for the average user,” Mosseri shared. “So, there’s no more rug pull.”

 

While it may have cost Instagram some engagement, it’s a welcome move as it creates a smoother and more predictable experience for all.

 

• https://lifehacker.com/tech/instagram-isnt-going-to-randomly-refresh-anymore 
• https://www.androidcentral.com/apps-software/instagram-removes-rug-pull-feature-for-good 
• https://mashable.com/article/instagram-rug-pull-refreshing-video 

 

Image: Anastasiia Yanishevska | Dreamstime.com