Instagram has unveiled "Your Algorithm," a groundbreaking feature that allows users to view and directly adjust the topics shaping their Reels recommendations.
The platform launched the tool on Wednesday in the United States, marking a significant step toward algorithmic transparency in social media.
The feature operates through an icon located in the upper-right corner of the Reels tab—two lines with hearts—which opens a personalized dashboard displaying the topics Instagram's AI identifies as user interests based on viewing history and engagement patterns.
Rather than operating as an opaque black box, the system now reveals what influences content recommendations and permits users to modify those preferences in real time.
Users can view a summary of their top interests, add new topics they wish to explore, or remove subjects no longer relevant to their browsing habits. The adjustments take effect immediately, with Instagram updating recommendations according to the modified preferences.
This represents a departure from traditional platform controls, which typically offered only blunt mechanisms like "not interested" buttons or account blocking.
Tessa Lyons, Instagram's vice president of product, emphasized that the system uses AI to summarize user interests based on activity and permits users to correct the algorithm when it misidentifies their preferences.
Rather than restricting content discovery, the feature aims to enhance it by balancing access to established interests with opportunities to encounter new content.
The timeline for this initiative traces back several years. According to Lyons, the concept originated from a meme on Threads where users crafted posts addressing their algorithms with requests—statements like "Dear Algorithm, I no longer wish to see politics".
This grassroots expression of user frustration directly inspired the feature development.
The launch timing aligns with mounting regulatory pressure on social media platforms globally. The European Union's Digital Services Act mandates greater transparency regarding recommendation systems, while regulatory bodies worldwide have intensified scrutiny of algorithmic content curation.
Critics have long argued that opaque algorithms fuel echo chambers and amplify misinformation, a concern that regulatory frameworks increasingly address.
Meta positions Instagram as "leading the way" in algorithmic transparency, contrasting the feature with competitors' offerings.
TikTok introduced a "Manage Topics" feature previously, but it provides only a limited number of broad categories, whereas Instagram's implementation is fully personalized and permits custom topic additions.
The feature includes an additional social dimension: users can share their interest profile on their Instagram Story, transforming algorithmic preferences into a form of social expression and allowing followers to view and potentially adopt elements of their curated feeds.
Instagram emphasizes that "Your Algorithm" represents only one component of the Reels experience. Even with specific interest selections, users continue to encounter diverse content beyond their stated preferences.
The company maintains that optimal Reels functionality requires balancing deeper exploration of existing interests with discovery of novel content areas.
The rollout commenced in the United States with plans for global expansion in English "soon," according to company announcements. Beyond Reels, Instagram intends to bring this algorithmic control capability to the Explore tab and additional sections of the app in future phases.
A comparable feature is already in development for Meta's Threads platform, which will enable users to tag posts with "dear algo" to communicate content preferences to the algorithm.
The feature also carries commercial implications for Instagram's advertising platform.
The insights users provide about their interests enable Instagram to present more targeted and relevant advertisements, potentially enhancing the advertising experience alongside the user experience.
This development coincides with Australia's historic decision to impose a social media ban for users under sixteen, marking global regulatory momentum toward controlling algorithmic influence on younger demographics.
The Australian government stated the initiative aims to "regain control" from technology corporations and protect minors against "predatory algorithms."
From a broader perspective, "Your Algorithm" signals a historic shift in Meta's approach to algorithmic transparency. For years, the company fiercely protected its recommendation systems as competitive advantages and resisted calls for greater openness.
This reversal reflects evolving user expectations, regulatory requirements, and recognition that user trust increasingly depends on algorithmic accountability.
The feature represents a notable but measured approach to algorithm transparency. Rather than dismantling the algorithmic recommendation system entirely—which platforms view as essential to engagement and content discovery—Instagram enables direct user participation in algorithmic decisions.
This balanced mechanism acknowledges the tension between algorithmic utility and user autonomy while moving toward greater control and understanding of how social platforms distribute content.
