Instagram has announced the launch of a new feature called “Your Algorithm,” marking the first time users are given direct visibility into—and control over—the topics that shape their recommendation feed. The feature resembles TikTok’s personalization settings and relies heavily on AI to ensure that suggested content more closely reflects a user’s evolving interests.
In its official blog post, Instagram stated, “As your interests evolve over time, we want to give you more meaningful ways to control what you see on Instagram, starting with Reels.”
The feature will initially roll out on the Reels (short-video) page, with plans to expand it to Explore and other sections of the app. Users can access the “Your Algorithm” interface by tapping the icon in the upper-right corner of the Reels page (two lines with a heart). The feature includes several key functions:
- See your top interests: Instagram will display a summary of the topics its algorithm currently believes you are most interested in.
- Tune your preferences: Users can enter specific keywords to signal whether they want to see “more” or “less” of certain content, allowing the Reels recommendation system to adjust accordingly.
- Share your algorithm: If desired, users may share their interest tags to Stories, letting friends and followers know what they have been exploring lately.
Notably, the entire feature is powered by AI, reflecting Meta’s broader strategy of aggressively integrating artificial intelligence into all of its platforms.
However, the timing is significant: just one day before this announcement, Instagram was found by international media to be using large language models (LLMs) to generate sensational—and often inaccurate—“content-farm–style” SEO titles for user posts without their consent, prompting user frustration. While “Your Algorithm” is intended to grant people greater autonomy over what they see, Meta still faces the challenge of balancing AI-driven convenience with user trust and comfort.
The feature is rolling out first in the United States and will gradually expand to other markets.