ronn torossian instagram

For social media users and marketers who no longer want to see pictures of cats and coffees on their news feed, there’s a new feature rolling out. Instagram, the visual social platform owned by Facebook, just announced a feature that offers the power to dictate which posts do or don’t show up on a feed. In the weeks ahead, users will be able to remove the posts and stories published by specific accounts on your Instagram feed, without unfollowing anyone.

This “mute” option from Instagram may be a good option for someone who wants to get rid of a person’s updates on their feed, without causing a relationship problem. When an individual is muted, they won’t get any notification telling them of the change, so they can continue to post as normal, unaware that someone isn’t seeing their content.

The New Mute Feature

For years, Facebook has given users the option to get rid of certain people on their feed, and Snapchat users were thrilled to get the same experience. It seems as though it’s about time that Instagram followed suit – providing users with a way to refine their news feed without risking the loss of followers. This option will also mean that users don’t have to unfollow friends that post too frequently when they don’t have time to sift through too much content.

This isn’t the only update introduced by Instagram lately either. Social media marketers and PR experts will notice that the social media platform has been experimenting with the algorithm it uses to organize content too. Instagram is trying to figure out how it can show users the content that they’re most interested in at the top of their news feed. The difference with this update is that it gives more power back to users, rather than making decisions for them.

How to Activate the Instagram Mute Feature

Those who want to take full advantage of the new Instagram feature when it rolls out in the coming weeks won’t have to worry too much about a complicated tech experience. To use the system, all you need to do is select the three-dot menu at the side of a post from someone you’d rather not see in your news feed anymore. Underneath the “unfollow” option, the “mute” choice should be listed too.

Similar to the unfollow option that Facebook offers, and the Snapchat “do not disturb” feature, the Instagram mute solution means that users can still go and look at the account of the people they mute if they want to catch up with stories and posts – even when the profile is set to private. The users on mute still follow each other, the difference is that you don’t get the updates on your feet when they add new content to the platform.

The mute feature isn’t necessarily permanent either. There’s also a feature to unmute the account stories and posts that you previously got rid of by following the same procedure.

Ronn Torossian is the CEO and Founder of 5W  Public Relations.

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Ronn Torossian is the Founder & Chairman of 5W Public Relations, one of the largest independently owned PR firms in the United States. Since founding 5WPR in 2003, he has led the company's growth and vision, with the agency earning accolades including being named a Top 50 Global PR Agency by PRovoke Media, a top three NYC PR agency by O'Dwyers, one of Inc. Magazine's Best Workplaces and being awarded multiple American Business Awards, including a Stevie Award for PR Agency of the Year. With over 25 years of experience crafting and executing powerful narratives, Torossian is one of America's most prolific and well-respected public relations executives. Throughout his career he has advised leading and high-growth businesses, organizations, leaders and boards across corporate, technology and consumer industries. Torossian is known as one of the country's foremost experts on crisis communications. He has lectured on crisis PR at Harvard Business School, appears regularly in the media and has authored two editions of his book, "For Immediate Release: Shape Minds, Build Brands, and Deliver Results With Game-Changing Public Relations," which is an industry best-seller. Torossian's strategic, resourceful approach has been recognized with numerous awards including being named the Stevie American Business Awards Entrepreneur of the Year, the American Business Awards PR Executive of the Year, twice over, an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year semi-finalist, a Top Crisis Communications Professional by Business Insider, Metropolitan Magazine's Most Influential New Yorker, and a recipient of Crain's New York Most Notable in Marketing & PR. Outside of 5W, Torossian serves as a business advisor to and investor in multiple early stage businesses across the media, B2B and B2C landscape. Torossian is the proud father of two daughters. He is an active member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and a board member of multiple not for profit organizations.