Instagram Finally Fixes Its Refreshing Style Degeneration

Quick linksI feel like updating Instagram makes sense today, it seems like Instagram is resetting rather than refreshingThe approach of BlueSky seems much betterInstagram finally tries to fix the refresh—Is that enough?

The refresh function of Instagram has been broken for a long time, and although constant complaints are made, nothing has changed - until now. Instagram finally brings some changes to how it manages refresh, but is that enough?

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I wish updating Instagram was really meaningful.

I want to find back how Instagram worked in the 2010s. Of course, the app is now more polite with many features, but at least back then, refreshing your feed wasn't as chaotic as it is today.

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Instagram used to be simple - posts from people you follow appeared in chronological order, and refreshing updated the latest posts at the top. There were fewer ads, no suggested posts, and much less chaos.

This was not as captivating as what it is today, but I would say that was a good thing. If you scrolled long enough, you'd eventually see the same posts again, an obvious signal that it was time to close the app.

Today, It Looks More Like a Restart of Instagram Than An Update

That day, the chronological feed disappeared, and the Instagram algorithm decides. (Although you can still manually switch back to it on the mobile app) Now, your feed is a mix of posts from people you follow and content suggested by Instagram accounts that think you'll like. In fact, suggested posts now represent nearly half of the Instagram experience.

I don't have a problem with post suggestions themselves — they keep my newsfeed interesting and helped me discover creators I love now.

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What bothers me is their insecurity. Each refresh clears the dashboard, replacing your feed with suggested content. Sometimes, simply switching between apps triggers a refresh, even when background refresh is disabled.

Why BlueSky's approach makes so much more sense

Lucas Gouveia / How it works? | Andrii Yalanskyi / Shutterstock

The confusing refresh style of Instagram made me appreciate how BlueSky manages feeds. Unlike Instagram, BlueSky gives you control. You don't have to stay on the default feed; you can subscribe to personalized feeds tailored to your interests.

This means you don't need to rely on unpredictable suggested posts to make your newsfeed interesting. You can simply add the feeds you like, and your content remains consistent. There's no randomization every time you refresh—just the posts you really care about.

Instagram finally tries to fix the refresh — Is that enough?

To Instagram's credit, they are making adjustments. They recently fixed the "pull-rug" bug - this annoying irritation where a video you were watching disappeared mid-way through because the app had finished refreshing.

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This is a step in the right direction, but it's not enough. I want my Instagram to not make me feel like it's a new account every time I refresh. I'd like my feed to have some continuity so I don't constantly search for missing posts. And I'd like the app to stop refreshing randomly when I'm just a second away from it.

Let's hope Instagram continues to improve its refresh function. In the meantime, if your feed seems messy, here's how you can clean it up.