Instagram launches Your Algorithm tool to let users control what they see in Reels feed

Instagram's new 'Your Algorithm' tool gives you more control over the Reels you see | TechCrunch

Instagram is introducing a new tool that lets you see and control your algorithm, starting with Reels, the company announced on Wednesday. The new tool, called "Your Algorithm," lets you view the topics that shape your Reels recommendations and customize them to better fit your interests. When you're watching Reels, you'll see an icon in the upper right corner that looks like two lines with hearts. Tapping on that will open "Your Algorithm." You will then see what topics Instagram thinks you care about the most. Instagram says your list of interests is determined by your activity and summarized by AI. For example, you might see a description that reads: "Lately you've been into creativity, sports hype, fitness motivation, and skateboarding." You can choose to share this description to your Story, so your followers can see what you're into, kind of like you do with your Spotify Wrapped results. Underneath the summary, you will see the list of topics that Instagram thinks you're interested in. You can select which topics you want to see more or less of, and your recommendations will adapt accordingly. Plus, if you're interested in a topic that isn't listed, you can type it in to add it to your list of interests. The move follows TikTok's rollout of its "Manage Topics" feature last year, which allows users to take greater control over what they see on their For You feed. Similar to Instagram's new feature, TikTok lets you tailor your feed to show more or less of certain topics. However, unlike TikTok, which only displays around a dozen generic topic categories, Instagram's list is personalized to you and lets you add additional topics. The new Instagram tool is available starting Wednesday in the U.S. and will roll out globally in English soon. In the future, people will be able to use the Your Algorithm tool to personalize their Explore feed, Instagram says. The company plans to bring the tool to more places in the app as well.

Want to Control Your Reels Algorithm? This New Instagram Feature Should Help

If you are tired of seeing repetitive or irrelevant content on Instagram Reels, a new setting allows you to adjust your algorithm. Starting today, Instagram is making the "Your Algorithm" setting it announced earlier this year available to users in the US. The feature lets you view and control what you see on Reels. In the future, it will roll out to more parts of the Instagram app, including the Explore and Home tabs. To view your Reels algorithm, look for a new icon on the top right of the Reels feed that looks like two lines, each with a heart. Tap it to see the topics Instagram's AI thinks you're interested in. From here, you can add topics you like and remove the ones you don't, and your feed will be adjusted accordingly. There's also an option to share your algorithm to your Story. "As your interests evolve over time, we want to give you more meaningful ways to control what you see on Instagram, starting with Reels," Instagram says. "Using AI, you can now more easily view and personalize the topics that shape your Reels, making recommendations feel even more tailored to you." Your Algorithm is debuting in the US in English today and will be rolling out to users worldwide very soon. If you don't see it, make sure your app is updated. Later, the feature will also add support for two additional languages, Instagram head Adam Mosseri said in a separate post. This comes as Instagram was reportedly found using AI to create titles for IG posts that appear in search engine results to get them to rank higher, 404 Media reports.

Instagram will let you control which topics its algorithm recommends

For the first time, Instagram will start letting you control the topics its algorithm recommends, much as you now can on TikTok. The new feature is starting with the Reels tab but will eventually come to Explore and other areas of the app. Like much of what Meta is doing right now (for better or worse), the "Your Algorithm" feature will be powered by AI. "As your interests evolve over time, we want to give you more meaningful ways to control what you see," Instagram wrote on its blog post. "Using AI, you can now more easily view and personalize the topics that shape your Reels, making recommendations feel even more tailored to you." To see and control the Reels algorithm, tap the icon in the upper right corner (two lines with hearts) to open Your Algorithm. It will show what topics Instagram thinks you're interested in, then you can specify which ones you want to see more or less of and your recommendations will adapt. You can fine tune topics as well: Another AI "feature" that surfaced yesterday on the platform didn't go over well with some users. It was discovered that Instagram was generating sensational and often inaccurate headlines that were likely created by an LLM. And you can expect AI to infiltrate its apps even more down the road, judging by the company's recent acquisitions and priority shifts. In any case, the new Your Algorithm feature for the Reels tab is debuting today in the US only and expanding to other territories in the future.

Instagram's new tool lets you put AI slop in check

Soon after giving Instagram users the option to nuke their account's content preferences, the Meta-owned social media giant is now rolling out a less destructive alternative. You'd typically want to wipe your account's content suggestion algorithm if it gets too out of hand, essentially giving your Explore page a fresh start. However, Instagram's new 'Your Algorithm' tool wants to give users more precise controls to fine-tune suggestions as a replacement for nuking them, as highlighted in a new blog post. Instagram is considering a reset button to give your Explore page a fresh start Testing is underway Posts By Chandraveer Mathur Nov 19, 2024 As your interests evolve over time, we want to give you more meaningful ways to control what you see on Instagram, starting with Reels. Using AI, you can now more easily view and personalize the topics that shape your Reels, making recommendations feel even more tailored to you. The new tool is first rolling out for the Reels tab, and users will see an icon for it in the upper right corner when watching short-form videos on the platform. The icon looks like a filter icon with a slight twists -- on Instagram, it will appear as two lines with hearts. Tapping the new icon opens your 'algorithm,' which highlights what type of content you've been into lately, content chips for the type of videos you want to see more, and similarly, chips for content that you want to see less. Limited to the US for now As seen in the image above, the 'what you want to see more of' section will already be populated when you open it for the first time. "Based on your activity, summarized by AI" says text under the section. Users then have the option to fine-tune the suggestions even further, essentially by removing some topics, and adding other ones. Once fine-tuned, you then have the option to "share your interests to your Story, so friends and followers can see what you're into." The new tool is rolling out starting today in the US. It will expand globally to all users using Instagram in English "soon." Similarly, while currently limited to Reels, Instagram does plan to expand it to the Explore page and "more places in the app soon."

Instagram now lets you take control of your feed (somewhat) - 9to5Mac

A commonly expressed frustration with algorithmically-driven apps like Instagram is that users have no control over their feeds. They are instead shown what the app thinks they want to see, which is often wildly inaccurate. Meta is promising to provide at least a partial solution to the problem with a new feature called Your Algorithm ... Prior to the update, Instagram's Reels feed worked exactly the same way as TikTok: you got to see what the app thought you would like without any control over it. Wired reports that Meta is now addressing this. Starting today, users will now see a list of what Instagram considers to be your top, recent interests. This kind of peek behind the algorithmic curtain is already uncommon in social media apps, but Meta is taking it a step further by allowing Instagram users to influence their algorithm directly by picking topics they want to see more or less often in Reels. This feature, called "Your Algorithm," [...] is landing on Instagram first for those in the US, with a global rollout for English users in the works. You can't, however, escape the AI altogether. When a user opens the new "Your Algorithm" tab on Instagram, they'll see a brief summary of what they've "been into" while scrolling through Reels. The topics displayed are based on recent user activity, and the summaries are made using generative AI. Meta's examples of topics that users could add with the new feature include "Horror movies," "Chess," and "College football." You also have the option of sharing this summary of what the algorithm has learned about you with your Instagram followers.

Instagram just gave users algorithm control -- and this could change the face of social media

Some describe social media algorithms as black boxes, dark spaces that have substantial control over what you see but offer virtually zero insight into how they do their dark magic. Instagram is changing that equation today by opening up just a little bit of the inscrutable programming and letting users - with AI's help - take the wheel. Instagram announced the "new way to control your Instagram experience" in a blog post on Wednesday (December 10), explaining that the change will allow users to both see and control their Reels algorithm. Reels is the longer-form video content and most closely resembles TikTok, another social media platform with a powerful and inscrutable algorithm. Don't worry, when you see the new algorithm access icon (two lines with hearts), you won't be looking at code. Instead, using AI in ways it does not explain, Instagram shows you what it understands about your interests. What you watch most or for the longest, what you like, what you share, and even what you quickly swipe through all shape the Reels algorithm. That detail, your interests, will now appear listed in the summary of topics list at the top. Here's where it gets interesting, though; you can now muck about in your algorithm, entering topics you want to see more of, as well as those you'd rather remove from your feed. Instagram promises "your Reels will reflect your choices." Perhaps even more surprising, Instagram will let you share your algorithm, or at least the interests you like, in a Story post. When I first heard about this, I kind of laughed out loud, since there are more than a few memes about the dangers of, say, your spouse or partner seeing what your algorithm reveals about you. Reels algorithm access is, apparently, just the start. Instagram promised to bring the feature to Explore "and more places in the app, soon," which we take to mean that eventually, you'll have access to your full Instagram algorithm. After years of criticism that Meta and Instagram have not done enough to protect their users (especially teens) from harmful content, Instagram has been taking a far more aggressive approach to content control. Most of it has been on the side of parental controls. However, this is the first big step to truly putting control in the hands of users. Most people scratch their heads and wonder why certain things show up in their feeds while other topics do not. This may lift that veil of confusion, but also reveal how Instagram has been watching us. People's Reels feeds should become far more curated and maybe end up feeling like safer spaces. I am curious about how this might impact advertising since we all know how an in-person conversation with a friend or relative about a potential trip to Paris almost immediately results in Paris videos in our feed (this is not alchemy; the friend has probably searched in Instagram or Facebook about Paris and, since you're connected, well, your feeds is infected with Viva La France). Perhaps now, you can go into your algo center and remove that Paris topic before the full-blown feed infection. Instagram is likely also doing this to help bring people back to Instagram. There's some indication that Gen Alpha - the next target market - is leaving social media. Perhaps changes like this - real algo control - will help bring them back. This might also put some pressure on other social media companies like X (formerly Twitter) and, especially, TikTok (which is supposed to soon be US-owned and controlled) to make their algorithms publicly accessible and curatable. Instagram says Reels algorithm control is rolling out across the US today and will roll out globally (for English-speaking markets) soon. Check it out and let us know your thoughts - and wild algo discoveries - in the comments below.

Exclusive: Instagram's new feature finally gives you (a little) more control of your algorithm

It's a common experience: you search for white bean soup recipes one time on Instagram, and you are bombarded with white bean soup content on the app for seemingly all eternity. Instagram wants to fix that. Starting today, the company's three billion users can have more control over their algorithm via a "Tune Your Algorithm" feature. It's not quite Bluesky, or the Instagram of yore that only displayed content from accounts users followed, but it does let users select or unsubscribe from different topics. The new feature, which leverages AI, lets users pick topics they want to see more or less of on their explore page. Users will first be able to see a list of suggested topics that their algorithm thinks they are interested in which they can modify. Users can also share their interests to their stories, allowing their followers to see and even replicate some of their feed. "We're always trying to show people the best possible reels for them. After 2020 [we] slowly started figuring out how to do a good job of predicting people's interests and showing them reels they'd be interested in," Tessa Lyons, Instagram's vice president of product, says. "I think we do a pretty good job today, but we don't always get it right, and we know that people's interests change. What we really want to do is give people control over the experience that they have on Instagram."

Instagram launches Your Algorithm for Reels

Instagram launched the "Your Algorithm" feature, enabling users to influence content recommendations in the Reels tab through an AI-driven dashboard of personal interests derived from engagement history. The feature introduces a new icon consisting of two lines with hearts in the top-right corner of the Reels screen. Tapping this icon reveals a personal dashboard that lists a user's top interests, calculated by artificial intelligence analyzing patterns in content interactions such as likes, views, and shares. This dashboard provides a clear view of how the platform interprets user preferences based on past activity within the app. Users gain the ability to adjust these interests directly on the dashboard. They can select specific topics to see more content about or indicate preferences for less exposure to certain areas. If the AI incorrectly identifies an interest, individuals have the option to remove it entirely from their algorithm profile. This real-time adjustment mechanism allows for immediate feedback to the system, altering future Reels recommendations accordingly. Tessa Lyons, vice president of product at Instagram, described the technology in an exclusive interview aired on "Good Morning America." She stated, "We use AI to summarize your interests based on your activity." Lyons further explained the correction process: "And if we get it wrong, you can remove those interests from your algorithm." She emphasized the value of user input, noting, "Being able to tell us that directly so that we can take action in real time, I think, will improve their Instagram experience." Lyons added, "This is one way for you to give us feedback on what you're seeing on reels that can influence the reels you're seeing going forward. And I think people are going to really enjoy having that level of control and customization." The dashboard includes a sharing function, permitting users to post their algorithm interests directly to their Instagram story. This option lets followers view the listed topics, fostering discussions about content preferences among networks. An Instagram blog post detailing the feature outlines key capabilities: users can "see your top interests," "tune your preferences," and "share your algorithm." The post positions Instagram as advancing user control to ensure Reels content aligns closely with individual tastes. Instagram intends to expand this functionality beyond the Reels tab. The company plans to integrate similar controls into the Explore tab and additional sections of the app in upcoming updates. The blog post acknowledges ongoing development: "We're starting with the Reels tab, and are planning to bring this ability to Explore, and more places in the app soon." It also states, "We're still early in this journey, and will keep refining and improving the experience over time." Alongside this rollout, Meta announced expansions to teen safety features across its platforms, though specific details on these enhancements were not elaborated in the announcement.

Instagram gives users control of their algorithms in new feature

Users can note which content they would like to view more frequently. Instagram is handing users some control in deciding what content they see. The social media giant is allowing users to have a say over their algorithm in a new feature launching Wednesday called "Your Algorithm," which is available in the "Reels" tab of the app. "We use AI to summarize your interests based on your activity," Tessa Lyons, vice president of product at Instagram, said in an exclusive interview, which aired on "Good Morning America," breaking the news of the update on Wednesday. "And if we get it wrong, you can remove those interests from your algorithm." Users can navigate to the "Reels" tab and click the new icon, two lines with hearts, in the top right corner of the screen to view a personal dashboard of their top interests based on what content users engage with most frequently. In that dashboard, users can note which content they would like to view more frequently or less frequently. "Being able to tell us that directly so that we can take action in real time, I think, will improve their Instagram experience," said Lyons. "This is one way for you to give us feedback on what you're seeing on reels that can influence the reels you're seeing going forward. And I think people are going to really enjoy having that level of control and customization." Lance Ulanhoff, editor at large for the popular tech news website TechRadar, pointed out the important jump this signifies for user understanding of the algorithm in an interview with "Good Morning America." "Algorithms are sort of at the center of these social media platforms. They're maybe the most important part and maybe the least understood part for most consumers," said Ulanhoff. "So this is a very big step where one company is kind of opening it up and letting people figure out what it really is and what it means to them." A blog post from Instagram summarizing the new feature highlights that the new feature allows users to "see your top interests," "tune your preferences" and "share your algorithm"- the ability to post your interests to your Instagram story for followers to see. "Instagram is leading the way in giving you more control, so your Reels feel relevant and made for you. We're starting with the Reels tab, and are planning to bring this ability to Explore, and more places in the app soon," reads the blog post. "We're still early in this journey, and will keep refining and improving the experience over time."

You'll Now be Able to "Retrain" Your Reels Algorithm, Instagram Says - Phandroid

Instagram recently announced that it's pushing out new updates for the app, which will give users a means to shape their content algorithm to their preferences. Users will now be able to use AI to influence the content in your reels tab, instead of relying on watch history. Part of Instagram's official announcement reads: Instagram has always been a place to dive deep into your interests and connect with friends. As your interests evolve over time, we want to give you more meaningful ways to control what you see on Instagram, starting with Reels. Using AI, you can now more easily view and personalize the topics that shape your Reels, making recommendations feel even more tailored to you. When viewing Reels, users will now see a new icon in the upper right corner resembling two lines with hearts. Tapping this opens a specific "Your Algorithm" section, which displays a summary of topics that a user might be interested in. If the list feels off, or if you simply want a change of pace, you can type in specific topics to see more or less of them. The system then adapts your recommendations to match these preferences. Users can also share their curated list of interests to their Story. Instagram says that the feature will be available starting today for users in the US, with a planned global expansion to more English-speaking regions soon.

Instagram's New Algorithm Tool Lets You Take Control of Your Reels Tab

Your Algorithm feature is launching today in the US in English Instagram has introduced a new tool to give users more control over what they see on the platform. The Meta-owned photo and video sharing platform has confirmed that it will let users view and customise the topics that shape their Reels feed. The new 'Your Algorithm' tool is powered by AI, and Instagram says it will help the company provide more personalised recommendations for users. The feature will be initially available in the Reels tab, with plans to expand to the Explore tab and other areas of the app. It's now available in the US and will roll out globally in English in the coming weeks. Instagram Users Can Now Control Their Reels Algorithm The company explains that its new 'Your Algorithm' tool shows users an icon in the top-right corner that looks like two lines with hearts, while they are watching a Reel. Tapping this icon will open Your Algorithm, a new tool that will let users personalise the topics for their Reels feed. Using the Your Algorithm tool, users can see what topics Instagram thinks they are interested in at the top. The topics include sports, horror movies, gym, food, day in life, college football and more. It also lets users type in the topics they want to see more or less of, and their Reels will reflect their choices. Users can also share their preferences with the tool, allowing Instagram to personalise the topics using AI. The screenshots of the feature shared by Instagram show an example that reads "Lately you've been into creativity, sports hype, fitness motivation, and skateboarding." Instagram will show this feature starting with the Reels tab. The company confirmed that it is planning to bring this ability to the Explore and Home tabs in the app soon. The Your Algorithm feature is launching today in the US in English and will be available globally soon. Instagram head Adam Mosseri, in a separate post, confirmed that the feature will also support two more languages shortly.

Instagram Your Algorithm: What is it, how does it work, and everything you need to know

Instagram is launching "Your Algorithm" a new AI-powered feature. Users can now see and adjust topics shaping their Reels feed. This offers greater control and transparency over content. The feature is rolling out in the United States with a global expansion planned. Creators may see indirect impacts as user preferences become clearer. Instagram has announced a new feature called the new "Your Algorithm". "Instagram has always been a place to dive deep into your interests and connect with friends. As your interests evolve over time, we want to give you more meaningful ways to control what you see on Instagram, starting with Reels. Using AI, you can now more easily view and personalise the topics that shape your Reels, making recommendations feel even more tailored to you," the company said. So if you are wondering what is it, here's everything you know What is Instagram's "Your Algorithm"? "Your Algorithm" is a new feature that gives users more control over the content they see, starting with the Reels tab. Instagram says it uses AI to understand evolving interests and tailor recommendations accordingly. When was it launched? Instagram introduced the feature on December 11, 2025. Is it available now? It is rolling out first in the United States, with a global expansion planned. How does it work? The feature lets users view a list of topics Instagram believes they're interested in. Users can then choose what they want to see more of, and what they'd prefer to see less of, shaping the Reels feed in real time. How will this be useful to users? "Your Algorithm" shows why certain Reels appear in your feed. It also allows you to directly adjust your preferences by selecting or removing topics -- offering more transparency and control. Where can users find this feature? The "Your Algorithm" tab will appear in the top-right corner of the app. Inside is an AI-generated summary of your interests based on recent activity. What are the types of topics shown? Topics may include things like Painting, GRWM, Chess, Horror Movies, or any category Instagram's AI believes matches your viewing patterns. Can users share their interest summary? Yes. Users have the option to share their AI-generated interest list publicly with followers. Does "Your Algorithm" update over time? Yes. The interest summary is dynamic. As your activity changes -- what you watch, like, or engage with -- the list evolves. Is this feature limited to Reels? For now, the feature focuses on Reels, though Instagram has said similar transparency tools will eventually come to the Explore section. Why is Instagram introducing this now? There's been increasing public interest in understanding and influencing social-media algorithms. "Your Algorithm" is positioned as a response to that demand for transparency and control. Will this affect content creators? Indirectly, yes. Since users can now indicate what they want more or less of, creators may pay closer attention to audience behavior and topic trends to stay visible. Does this change how the AI works behind the scenes? The core AI still analyzes activity patterns like watch time, likes, and shares, but now users can intervene -- amplifying or reducing certain topics manually. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)

Instagram now lets you see and control your Reels algorithm

Meta-owned Instagram on Wednesday announced a new way for users to manage their experience on the platform, starting with the Reels tab. Using AI, the platform now allows users to adjust recommendations based on evolving interests. Instagram aims to give users more control over the content they see. The new AI-powered feature, Your Algorithm, lets users view and adjust the topics shaping their Reels feed. Users can access the feature via an icon in the upper-right corner of Reels (two lines with hearts). The feature provides three main functions: Instagram plans to extend this level of control to the Explore tab and other areas of the app in the future. The Your Algorithm feature is available starting today in the US and will roll out globally in English soon. The company noted that the feature will continue to be refined over time.