diff --git a/frontend/src/utils/visualizerSettings.ts b/frontend/src/utils/visualizerSettings.ts
index 41c69c2..971d10a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/utils/visualizerSettings.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/utils/visualizerSettings.ts
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ const VISUALIZER_DEFAULTS: VisualizerSettings = {
   observationWindowSec: 15,
   letEmDrift: true,
   particleSpeedMultiplier: 2,
-  pruneStaleNodes: false,
+  pruneStaleNodes: true,
   pruneStaleMinutes: 5,
   autoOrbit: false,
   showControls: true,