Turning Off Social Media Algorithms: A 24-Hour Experiment 2026

Turning off social media algorithms for 24 hours revealed a stark contrast to the curated feeds we've grown accustomed to. As governments worldwide push for greater user control, I decided to manually disable my Instagram algorithm to see what a chronological feed feels like.

Why I Turned Off My Algorithm

I have a confession: I love my social media algorithm. It's a perfectly curated window into my insane and inquiring mind. It knows precisely which videos will tickle me and which memes will gently distract me from the slow collapse of humankind. On Tuesday, the Australian government announced "world-leading" reforms that would force social media platforms to allow users to opt-out of algorithms, dubbed "my feed, my way."

On the same day, I was delighted to be confronted with a video on Instagram of a woman accidentally spilling a bucket of eels on a Chinese train. Dozens of eels slithered among the passengers, who appeared not as surprised as I would have expected. In bed that night, after sending the video to several friends and watching it multiple times, I lamented to my partner how I would find content like this if my accounts weren't at the whim of the algorithm gods. "You can still search for eels," he said. But would it be the same?

So, for 24 hours, I decided to manually turn off my algorithm via little-known settings on Instagram to get a sense of how the reforms might change my feed. This feature allows you to limit your feed to posts from accounts you are following, in chronological order. This is basically what social media feeds, including Facebook, looked like when they first started. Would I be thrust back into the old days of social media, to how things were before the algorithm took over?

The Experiment: 24 Hours Without Algorithms

Turning off the algorithm was surprisingly simple. In Instagram's settings, under "Following and Invites," I found the option to switch to a chronological feed. Immediately, my feed transformed. Instead of an endless stream of viral videos and targeted ads, I saw posts from friends, family, and accounts I actively follow.

The first thing I noticed was the silence. No suggested posts, no reels from strangers, no "explore" page tailored to my interests. It felt like stepping into a time machine back to 2010. But it also felt limiting. I realized how much I relied on the algorithm to discover new content and creators.

What I Missed

• Discovery of new content: The algorithm introduced me to niche memes, viral videos, and interesting accounts I wouldn't have found otherwise.
• Personalized recommendations: It knew my interests better than I did, serving up content that matched my mood.
• Endless entertainment: The chronological feed ran out quickly; I found myself refreshing with nothing new to see.

What I Enjoyed

• Authentic connections: I saw more posts from actual friends and family, not just influencers.
• Less mindless scrolling: Without the algorithm's hooks, I spent less time on the app.
• Control: I decided what I wanted to see, rather than being fed content.

Algorithm vs. Chronological Feed: A Comparison

To better understand the differences, here's a side-by-side comparison of my experience:

The Future of Social Media Feeds

The Australian reforms, if passed, could set a global precedent. Social media platforms might be forced to offer an opt-out, giving users the choice between algorithmic and chronological feeds. This could fundamentally change how we interact with social media.

For me, the experiment was eye-opening. While I missed the endless entertainment, I appreciated the control and authenticity of a chronological feed. It's a trade-off between convenience and autonomy. As governments and platforms debate the future of algorithms, users may soon have the power to decide.

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