How to Silence Toxic Content on Social Media

Opening social media apps like Instagram, TikTok, or X often leads to unexpected stress. Users intending to view memes or casual updates frequently encounter influencer disputes, controversial posts, or polarizing discussions. However, finding peace does not require deleting accounts or becoming a digital hermit. A practical approach involves muting specific content that negatively impacts mental well-being.

Major platforms offer built-in tools to filter out specific words, phrases, and profiles. These features allow users to curate their feeds without severing connections entirely. The following sections provide step-by-step instructions for silencing unwanted content on the most popular social networks.

Instagram provides two primary methods for reducing noise: muting specific text and muting specific accounts. Both options are accessible through the app's settings menu.

Filtering Words and Phrases

To prevent posts containing specific topics from appearing, follow these steps:

1. Open the app and navigate to your profile.
2. Tap the three horizontal lines icon to access account settings.
3. Scroll down and select Content preferences.
4. Tap on Specific words and phrases.
5. Add the words, phrases, hashtags, or emojis you wish to block and tap Add to save.

Muting People

If you wish to mute a specific person, you must be following them. Go to their profile and tap the Following button. You can then choose exactly what to mute, including:

• Posts
• Stories
• Exclusive story promotions
• Notes
• Activity status updates

TikTok allows users to restrict content in various sections of the app, including the main feed, following tab, and live streams.

Filtering Keywords

To block videos containing specific text:

1. Tap Profile in the bottom right corner.
2. Tap the three lines icon to open settings.
3. Select Settings and privacy.
4. Go to Content preferences and then Filter keywords.
5. Enter the words or phrases you want to restrict and select where they should be hidden (e.g., For You, Following, Friends, or Lives).

Muting People

To mute updates from a specific user:

1. Go to the user's profile.
2. Tap the Share icon.
3. Select Mute this user's posts/Mute their updates.

Both X and Facebook offer distinct tools for managing who appears in your feed and what text is visible.

Managing X (formerly Twitter)

To mute words or phrases on X:

1. Go to Settings and privacy.
2. Select Privacy and safety.
3. Choose Mute and block.
4. Tap Muted words, then Add to enter specific terms.

To mute a person, navigate to their profile, tap the three dots icon, and select Mute.

Managing Facebook

Facebook uses a temporary Snooze feature for people:

• When a post appears in your feed, tap the three dots icon.
• Select Snooze [Name] for 30 days. Note that this is temporary and must be renewed.

To filter words on Facebook:

1. Open the app and tap Menu.
2. Go to Settings and privacy > Settings.
3. Scroll to Followers and public content and tap Block list.
4. Enter the words, phrases, or emojis to hide and tap Save.

Managing a social media feed is an active process that requires utilizing the specific tools provided by developers. By silencing specific keywords and muting accounts that generate negativity, users can transform their digital experience from stressful to enjoyable. These settings offer a middle ground between total disconnection and constant exposure to unwanted content, allowing for a customized and peaceful online presence.