Understanding why your Facebook feed seems overwhelmed with ads and suggested content is a frustration many users share. Let’s break down what’s happening and what you can do about it.
The Shift in Facebook’s Content Strategy
Facebook’s algorithm has evolved dramatically since 2025, prioritizing paid content and suggestions over organic posts from friends and family. This isn’t an accident – it’s a deliberate business strategy. Think of your Facebook feed like a busy highway where paid traffic gets express lanes while personal connections are stuck in the slow lane.
Why You’re Seeing More Ads
The simple truth is that Facebook (Meta) makes its money through advertising. Every time you scroll past an ad or suggested post, the platform learns more about your interests and behaviors. It’s like having a very attentive friend who remembers everything you look at, but instead of using that information to buy you thoughtful gifts, they’re selling your attention to advertisers.
The Rise of Suggested Posts
You might notice that even when you’re not following certain pages or profiles, their content appears in your feed as “suggested posts.” This is Facebook’s way of keeping you engaged longer by showing content similar to what you’ve interacted with before. It’s like going to a bookstore where the shelves keep rearranging themselves based on what you’ve picked up to read.
Taking Back Control of Your Feed
Here’s what you can do to see more of what you actually want:
1. Regularly use the three-dot menu to select “Hide ad” or “Not interested”
2. Actively engage with posts from friends and family
3. Update your ad preferences in Facebook settings
4. Create custom lists of friends whose content you want to prioritize
The Hidden Feed Settings
Many users don’t realize that Facebook has a “Favorites” feature where you can prioritize up to 30 friends or pages whose content you’d like to see first. Think of it as creating your own VIP list for your feed.
Remember, Facebook’s algorithm responds to your behavior. The more you interact with ads and suggested posts (even negatively), the more the platform thinks you’re interested in that type of content. It’s like training a pet – ignore the behavior you don’t want, and reward (with engagement) the content you do want to see.
While we can’t completely eliminate ads and suggested posts (they’re part of Facebook’s business model), understanding how the system works puts you in a better position to curate a feed that better reflects what you actually want to see.
