Axios: Are you tired of algorithms dictating your media feed!

Posted on March 10, 2026 by michelleclarke2015
Dodge TikTok’s powerful algorithm
Animated illustration of a TikTok logo. The note in the logo changes into a filter/funnel icon, and a stream of colorful lines pass through it.
Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
 
Your social media feed is designed to keep you scrolling.

Most platforms rely on black-box algorithms to study what captures your attention and drum up more of it, Axios’ Erica Pandey writes.

What keeps your attention? Typically content that makes you laugh, cry or rage — because that keeps you locked in.😵‍💫 
Your brain is exhausted from hours of high-octane content.

And with the advent of AI, it’s getting harder and harder for all of us to tell the difference between truth and fiction.

Platforms don’t make it easy to sidestep their algorithms. But if you’re committed to keeping the apps, you can get much closer to the experience you actually want.

That might mean seeing more posts from friends, family and trusted news sources, and fewer random recommendations built to hijack your attention.⚡ 

Let’s start with TikTok, which has one of the most formidable algorithms, powering one of the most addictive apps of our time.Why it matters: The algorithm learns what you linger on — not what you “like” — and feeds you more of it at scale. If you don’t actively steer it, it will steer you.🚦

There’s no way to fully turn off TikTok’s algorithm, but you can blunt its influence on your feed.🔎 

Ditch the “For You” feed: This is where TikTok flexes its algorithmic muscle, serving up videos it thinks will keep you on the app. Instead, explore the “Following” feed, which only shows you TikToks made by friends or creators you’ve intentionally chosen.🛑 

Prune your algorithm: If you can’t escape it, train it. Be ruthless about flagging videos you don’t want to see more of — whether that’s incendiary personalities or buckets of content, like politics. Press on a video for a bit, and you’ll see an option to tap “Not Interested.” Use it!🌱
Seek out the good stuff: Training works both ways. There’s a lot of great content on TikTok. Use the search bar to actively look for the videos you do want to see. That could be “how Congress works,” “plant care tips” or “guided meditation.”🚫 

Scroll away: TikTok’s algorithm is a black box. But we do know it pays more attention to how long you spend watching a video than whether or not you “like” it. So hate-watching garbage — like health misinformation or rage-bait hot takes — is going to signal that you want more of it.🗑️ 

Be extreme: You have the option of clearing all your data and rebooting your algorithm. Head to “Settings,” then “Content preferences,” then tap “Refresh your For You feed.” You can do it whenever you want to make TikTok forget what it’s learned about you.

The bottom line: TikTok is relentless, but it’s trainable. Every scroll is a signal. Make yours intentional.Share this story.
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About michelleclarke2015

Life event that changes all: Horse riding accident in Zimbabwe in 1993, a fractured skull et al including bipolar anxiety, chronic fatigue …. co-morbidities (Nietzche 'He who has the reason why can deal with any how' details my health history from 1993 to date). 17th 2017 August operation for breast cancer (no indications just an appointment came from BreastCheck through the Post). Trinity College Dublin Business Economics and Social Studies (but no degree) 1997-2003; UCD 1997/1998 night classes) essays, projects, writings. Trinity Horizon Programme 1997/98 (Centre for Women Studies Trinity College Dublin/St. Patrick's Foundation (Professor McKeon) EU Horizon funded: research study of 15 women (I was one of this group and it became the cornerstone of my journey to now 2017) over 9 mth period diagnosed with depression and their reintegration into society, with special emphasis on work, arts, further education; Notes from time at Trinity Horizon Project 1997/98; Articles written for Irishhealth.com 2003/2004; St Patricks Foundation monthly lecture notes for a specific period in time; Selection of Poetry including poems written by people I know; Quotations 1998-2017; other writings mainly with theme of social justice under the heading Citizen Journalism Ireland. Letters written to friends about life in Zimbabwe; Family history including Michael Comyn KC, my grandfather, my grandmother's family, the O'Donnellan ffrench Blake-Forsters; Moral wrong: An acrimonious divorce but the real injustice was the Catholic Church granting an annulment – you can read it and make your own judgment, I have mine. Topics I have written about include annual Brain Awareness week, Mashonaland Irish Associataion in Zimbabwe, Suicide (a life sentence to those left behind); Nostalgia: Tara Hill, Co. Meath.
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