Instagram is taking a significant step toward algorithmic transparency with the launch of a new feature that puts users in the driver’s seat of their content recommendations. The newly released ‘Your Algorithm’ tool empowers users to both understand and customize what appears in their Reels feed, marking a shift in how social platforms approach personalization.
How ‘Your Algorithm’ Works
The new feature, which began rolling out Wednesday in the United States, provides unprecedented visibility into Instagram’s recommendation system. Users watching Reels can now tap an icon (appearing as two lines with hearts) in the upper-right corner to access their personalized algorithm settings.
Once opened, the tool displays a concise AI-generated summary of topics Instagram believes you’re interested in based on your viewing and engagement patterns. For instance, you might see something like: ‘Recently you’ve shown interest in creative DIY projects, basketball highlights, workout routines, and street skating techniques.’
This personalized interest summary isn’t just for your private viewing—Instagram allows you to share it directly to your Story, similar to how many users share their Spotify Wrapped results. This social sharing component adds a new dimension to the tool, potentially sparking conversations about content preferences among followers.
Customization Capabilities
Below the summary, Instagram presents a detailed breakdown of specific topics influencing your recommendations. The interface allows for direct manipulation of these interests through simple controls:
- See more content on selected topics
- Reduce content from topics you’re less interested in
- Add entirely new topics that might not be in your current algorithm profile
This granular control represents a significant advancement over previous recommendation systems where users could only provide indirect feedback through likes, shares, or the occasional ‘not interested’ option.
Real-World Applications
The practical applications of this tool extend beyond simple content curation. For creators, understanding what topics are trending among their audience could inform content strategy. For example, a fitness influencer might notice their followers are increasingly interested in nutrition content alongside workout routines, suggesting an opportunity to expand their content focus.
For everyday users, the tool offers a way to deliberately shape their social media experience rather than passively consuming whatever the algorithm serves. A user who initially followed skateboarding content but has developed an interest in photography can actively steer their feed toward this new interest without waiting for the algorithm to catch up naturally.
How Instagram’s Approach Compares to Competitors
While Instagram isn’t the first platform to offer algorithmic customization, their implementation appears more sophisticated than previous efforts. TikTok introduced its ‘Manage Topics’ feature in 2022, which similarly allows users to adjust their For You feed recommendations.
However, Instagram’s approach differs in two key ways. First, it provides a more personalized and extensive list of interest topics tailored to individual users, rather than broad categories. Second, it allows users to proactively add interests that might not be detected yet—a feature not currently available on TikTok, which limits users to selecting from predetermined topics.
Future Expansion Plans
Instagram has confirmed that ‘Your Algorithm’ represents just the beginning of their transparency initiative. The company has outlined plans to extend this functionality to other areas of the app, with the Explore feed next on their roadmap.
This phased rollout strategy allows Instagram to gather user feedback and refine the tool before implementing it across the entire platform. For international users, the current English-language version will expand globally in the coming months, though specific timelines for non-English implementations remain unannounced.
The Broader Significance
This move comes amid growing calls for algorithmic transparency across social media. As users become increasingly aware of how content recommendation systems shape their online experience, platforms face pressure to provide more control and visibility into these processes.
Instagram’s ‘Your Algorithm’ tool represents a tangible response to these concerns, potentially setting a new standard for user agency in social media. By making the invisible processes of content selection visible and adjustable, Instagram is acknowledging that users should have a say in what content fills their feeds.
The rollout also signals a potential shift in how social platforms approach the balance between algorithmic efficiency and user autonomy—a balance that will likely continue evolving as users experiment with these new controls and provide feedback on their effectiveness.