It can be hard, these days, to reinvent yourself online. The systems that track our activity are able to suggest personalized content for all but the most casual users. “We are constantly contending with algorithms of all kinds,” writes Kyle Chayka in his book Filterworld, “each one attempting to guess what we are thinking of, seeking and desiring.”

It’s equal parts useful, unsettling and restrictive: The algorithm behind your “discover feed” can, ironically, keep you from discovering new interests. One approach you can take, then, is to offer it new information about your interests. 

Look for the discreet triple-dot icon next to posts on YouTube, Instagram, X and Pinterest. You’ll find an explanation about why you’ve been shown that post, and the option to choose whether to see more or less content like it. (TikTok’s explanation is hidden in the share menu.) These small adjustments can shift your algorithm in a new direction over time. If that’s not enough, most platforms allow you to completely cleanse your algorithm and start from a blank slate. Both Instagram and TikTok let you “refresh” and “reset” the suggested content for your account.

The drawback, of course, is that your highly personalized feed will be suddenly replaced with a stream of generic content, but that may be a blessing. You might genuinely discover new interests and ideas (or at least a fun meme account you haven’t seen before). And if your feed is less relevant, you could find you’re motivated to look elsewhere—perhaps even offline—for entertainment.