Instagram is launching a major update aimed at giving users more control over the Reels content they see. The new feature, called “Your Algorithm,” lets people view the topics that influence their Reels recommendations and adjust them to match their real interests.
The tool first appeared in the US and will soon roll out globally in English. Instagram says the goal is to make the Reels experience feel more personal and relevant as users’ tastes change.
What Is Instagram’s “Your Algorithm” Feature?
Instagram’s latest Reels tool sits right inside the Reels tab. When you watch a Reel, you might see a small icon at the top right that looks like two lines with hearts. Tapping this opens your personal Your Algorithm panel.
Here, Instagram shows a short list of topics it believes you care about based on your recent activity. These topics might include things like:
- Fashion
- Sports
- Food
- Creativity
- Travel
You can even share this summary to your Story, similar to how people share their Spotify Wrapped results.
How Instagram’s “Your Algorithm” Lets You Control Reels Suggestions
Below the summary, Instagram shows topics it thinks you are interested in. From here, you can:
- Boost topics you want to see more of
- Mark topics to see less of
- Add new topics manually if they don’t appear
For example, if Instagram thinks you like cooking videos but you want to see more travel clips, you can add travel as a topic. If you prefer fewer sports videos, you can mark sports to show less often. Reel suggestions change based on what you choose.
This gives users more precise control over their feed, rather than relying on broad, automated categories alone.
Why Instagram Added This Control
Instagram says Your Algorithm is the first step toward clearer user control of recommendations. The company wants people to shape their experience instead of being pushed content they didn’t choose.
Right now, the tool affects only the Reels tab, but Instagram says it plans to bring similar controls to other areas like the Explore tab and possibly the main feed.
How to Use “Your Algorithm”: Step-by-Step Guide
Here’s a simple guide to using the feature:
- Open the Reels tab on Instagram.
- Play any Reel you see.
- Look for the small icon (two lines with hearts) in the top right corner.
- Tap the icon to open Your Algorithm.
- Review the topics Instagram thinks you like.
- Tap to increase or decrease how often a topic appears.
- If your preferred topic isn’t listed, type it in and add it.
Your Reels suggestions are then updated based on these choices.
What “Your Algorithm” Means for You
By letting users see and change the exact topics that shape their Reels recommendations, Instagram is giving people more control over their feed. This means:
- More relevance: You see content closer to what you actually want.
- Less repetition: You see fewer clips you aren’t interested in.
- Custom experience: You can tailor social media to your preferences, not the other way around.
What Comes Next for Instagram
Instagram plans to extend similar controls to the Explore tab and other sections of the app. The goal is a future where users can shape most of what they see — reducing unwanted recommendations and increasing meaningful content.
This move could redefine how personalisation works across social platforms and give users more power over algorithmic feeds.
