Content that is sensitive or violent may have increased for a number of reasons. Is there something wrong with Instagram reels?
Instagram users across the globe have raised concerns about their feeds being unexpectedly flooded with violent, disturbing, and NSFW content. Many individuals have turned to X (formerly Twitter) to express their frustration, with some pointing out that even enabling Sensitive Content Control has not prevented distressing videos from appearing on their feeds. Reports indicate that users are encountering explicit and gory visuals that they would typically not expect to see in their usual browsing experience.
One user questioned whether they were alone in experiencing this sudden shift, stating that their Instagram Reels feed had, within hours, begun displaying violent and unsettling videos seemingly at random. They speculated whether this was the result of a glitch or an unexpected change in the platform’s algorithm. Another frustrated user remarked that every few scrolls exposed them to content that was either sensitive or outright violent, leaving them confused about what was happening to Instagram.
Similar sentiments were echoed by others, with one individual emphasizing how their feed had become saturated with fight videos and clips of couples engaging in infidelity. Another described coming across multiple reels depicting physical altercations, some appearing to show serious confrontations, and even censored bodycam footage of a child predator being fatally shot. Others questioned why the issue was not receiving wider attention, recounting instances where their usual football-related feed had suddenly been overridden with violent videos and reels, making them wonder if something had gone wrong with Instagram’s content moderation system.
Although Meta has yet to release an official explanation, one possible reason behind this unusual influx of graphic content could be a malfunction in Instagram’s AI-driven content moderation system. Reports suggest that AI is responsible for scanning and restricting sensitive material from widespread visibility, but if the system encounters an error, it could end up displaying such content to a broader audience. This might have been what occurred, leading to the increase in violent and sensitive posts. Another theory is that Instagram’s latest algorithm update unintentionally amplified the visibility of certain types of posts, resulting in users being exposed to content that was previously filtered out. Vocal Media speculates that such an oversight in the algorithm’s prioritization might explain why so many users are suddenly seeing an increase in violent videos on their feeds.
