Here's something almost nobody does, even though it takes almost no effort.
Most people open Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube and just take what they're given. They watch videos they don't want to watch. They read posts they don't care about. They scroll past the same annoying (or offensive) content every single day.
And they never once stop and say, "I don't want this anymore. I want to see less of this."
Here's the truth: the algorithm is already training itself on you.
Every scroll, every pause, every click - it's taking notes. The only question is whether you're going to do it on purpose or by accident.
Here's how to do it on purpose.
This takes a few minutes a day for about a week, and your feed will start to change.
1. Tell it "no" out loud.
Every platform has a "not interested" button, and almost nobody uses it. Facebook: tap the three dots on a post and choose "Show fewer posts like this." Instagram: three dots, "Not interested." TikTok: press and hold the video, "Not interested." YouTube: three dots, "Not interested," or "Don't recommend channel."
Every time you do this, you're casting a vote. Cast them freely. It feels almost too simple, but it works.
2. Stop engaging with what you don't want.
This is the hard one for most people. Hate-watching is still watching. Anger-commenting is still commenting. The algorithm can't tell the difference between "I love this" and "this makes me furious" - it only sees engagement.
There is a HUGE industry out there of “rage baiters” who espouse positions they don’t really believe just to get you mad enough to comment.
In a political season it explodes.
Don’t take the bait.
If you don't want it in your feed, scroll on by or give it a thumbs down.
3. Reward what you do want.
Likes are nice, but comments, shares, and saves are the heavy signals. When you see something you genuinely want more of, don't just tap the heart. Comment on it. Save it. Send it to a friend.
You're not just consuming anymore at that point. You're programming.
4. Search on purpose.
The algorithm watches what you search and what you watch all the way through. Want more of a topic in your feed? Search it. Watch those videos to the end instead of halfway. Follow three or four new creators in that space.
Watch time is the strongest signal there is.
A full watch tells the algorithm "this" better than anything else you can do.
5. Mute the almost-right accounts.
You have people in your feed who post three things you love and one thing you can't stand. You don't have to unfollow them - mute works. On Facebook and Instagram, muting keeps the connection but hides the content. Out of sight really is out of feed.
6. Use the reset button when you need it.
If your feed is truly a mess - and some feeds are - both TikTok and Instagram now let you start over. TikTok has "Refresh your For You feed." Instagram has "Reset recommended content." It's a fresh start, and sometimes that's exactly what's needed.
Do this for a week - a real seven days of voting, rewarding, and searching - and you will not believe the difference. Your feed becomes a place you want to be, serving you what you asked for, because you finally asked.
And here's the bonus most people never think about: as a business owner, a well-trained feed is a research tool. You get to see exactly what your market is being shown, what's working, and what's getting attention in your space - without the noise burying it.
You're going to spend the time either way. Train it.
Charlie
P.S. These are the types of insights I share with Master Members every week. Taking these small actions lead to more people on your list and more sales too.
Why not join me and let me help get your marketing in high gear!