Instagram has launched an innovative new tool that allows users to customize their Reels feed algorithm, giving them greater control over the content they see. This feature, called "Your Algorithm," enables users to directly modify the topics Instagram uses to recommend Reels, tailoring the feed to individual preferences.
How Instagram’s New Tool Works to Customize Your Reels Feed
The new "Your Algorithm" feature appears directly within the Reels tab and provides users with a clear and simple interface to view the AI-powered topics Instagram associates with their interests. Users can add topics they want to see more of or remove topics they no longer want from their recommendations. To help users make informed decisions, Instagram also offers preview clips for each topic, allowing users to see example Reels before adjusting their preferences.
This explicit control contrasts with traditional passive algorithmic learning by letting users proactively shape their content experience. After setting preferences, Instagram’s AI adapts quickly, with users encouraged to engage intentionally—such as watching videos fully, saving, sharing, or marking content as “Not Interested”—to refine the recommendations further over about a week.
Why Instagram Introduced Custom Algorithm Controls in 2025
Instagram’s move comes amid broader platform updates emphasizing enhanced user agency and content relevance. The company has shifted toward prioritizing originality and authentic engagement in Reels, penalizing recycled or overly templated content. By empowering users to directly influence the algorithm, Instagram aims to:
- Improve user satisfaction by showing more relevant, personalized content.
- Enable faster retraining of the algorithm when users’ interests change or they want a fresh start.
- Support creators by aligning viewer preferences with their niche content.
This approach represents one of the most accessible and user-friendly implementations of algorithm customization in a major app, reflecting a growing trend toward transparency and user empowerment in social media platforms.
Practical Tips to Optimize Your Reels Feed Using the New Tool
To make the most of Instagram’s new customization feature, users should:
- Access the tool via Reels → Your Algorithm to review and toggle topic interests.
- Add new topics aligned with emerging interests or remove outdated ones to refresh the feed.
- Engage deliberately with Reels by watching those they want more of fully and using “Not Interested” on irrelevant videos.
- Save and share preferred Reels to signal strong interest to the algorithm.
- Be patient and consistent with interactions for about a week to allow the algorithm to recalibrate effectively.
Creators can also benefit by encouraging their audience to use this tool, ensuring their content aligns with user preferences and gains better visibility.
Instagram’s Algorithm Evolution and What It Means for Users and Creators
Since late 2024, Instagram’s Reels algorithm has undergone significant changes prioritizing originality signals over simple engagement metrics. Content that is unique, platform-native, and creatively diverse performs better than recycled or formulaic posts. The new algorithm controls complement these changes by enabling users to fine-tune what originality and topics they want in their feed.
Additionally, Instagram now tests Reels with non-followers before broader distribution, rewarding high watch times and engagement from new viewers. Shorter Reels under 30 seconds tend to perform better for discovery, and authentic user interaction remains key to maximizing reach.
For creators, this means focusing on innovative content aligned with niche interests and encouraging meaningful engagement. For users, the new tool offers unprecedented control to craft a Reels experience that truly resonates with their tastes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Instagram’s new “Your Algorithm” tool for Reels?
It is a feature that lets users view and adjust the topics Instagram uses to recommend Reels, allowing them to add or remove interests directly inside the Reels tab for a personalized feed.
How do I access and use the algorithm customization feature?
Go to the Reels tab, select "Your Algorithm," review the suggested topics, toggle topics on or off, preview example Reels, and engage with content consistently to retrain the algorithm.
Will customizing my Reels feed affect what other Instagram users see?
No, the customization affects only your personal feed recommendations and does not influence what other users see.
How quickly does Instagram update my Reels recommendations after adjusting topics?
The algorithm typically recalibrates within about a week if you engage intentionally with preferred content by watching, saving, and sharing relevant Reels.
Does this new tool mean Instagram will show fewer Reels overall?
No, it means Instagram will show Reels more aligned with your explicit interests, potentially increasing engagement and satisfaction with your feed.
Can creators benefit from this new tool?
Yes, creators can encourage followers to customize their algorithm to include topics related to their content, helping increase visibility and engagement.
🔄 Updated: 12/10/2025, 1:40:37 PM
Regulators in the U.S. have yet to issue formal responses to Instagram's launch of the new "Your Algorithm" tool, which allows users to customize their Reels feed algorithm by adding or removing interest topics. However, this move toward greater algorithm transparency and user control aligns with ongoing regulatory discussions addressing algorithmic accountability and user autonomy in social media platforms, topics highlighted in recent government hearings on digital transparency. Instagram’s initiative, starting in the U.S. with plans for a global rollout, may preempt potential regulatory pressure by empowering users with explicit control over AI-driven recommendations[1][2].
🔄 Updated: 12/10/2025, 1:50:39 PM
Instagram has launched a new tool called "Your Algorithm" that allows users to see and customize the topics influencing their Reels feed, enabling personalized control over the content they see. Users can add or remove interests based on AI-generated topic summaries drawn from their activity, with the ability to type in new topics and see immediate changes in recommendations. This feature, initially available in the U.S., marks a step beyond TikTok's generic topic controls by offering a more tailored experience and will expand globally and to other parts of the app soon[1][2].
🔄 Updated: 12/10/2025, 2:00:48 PM
Instagram has launched "Your Algorithm," a new tool allowing users worldwide to customize their Reels feed by adding or removing specific topic interests, enhancing user control over personalized content. Initially available in the U.S., the feature will roll out globally in English soon, reflecting a broader industry trend exemplified by TikTok's similar "Manage Topics" feature; Instagram's version offers more granular, AI-driven personalization beyond a dozen generic categories[1][2]. Early international responses highlight appreciation for the transparency and user empowerment, with Meta's Adam Mosseri emphasizing this as a step towards putting "people's explicit intent" at the forefront of their algorithm experience[2].
🔄 Updated: 12/10/2025, 2:10:54 PM
Regulators have not yet issued a formal response to Instagram's newly launched "Your Algorithm" tool that allows users to customize their Reels feed algorithm by selecting topics they want to see more or less of. However, this move toward greater algorithmic transparency and user control aligns with ongoing governmental calls worldwide for platforms to provide users with clearer insights and more control over content curation, following concerns about algorithmic bias and misinformation[1][2]. So far, Instagram has rolled out the feature in the U.S., with plans for a global rollout, but no specific regulatory statements or quantitative impact assessments have been publicly released.
🔄 Updated: 12/10/2025, 2:21:01 PM
Instagram has launched a new tool called "Your Algorithm" that allows users to customize their Reels feed by viewing and adjusting the AI-determined topics that shape their recommendations. This feature, initially available in the U.S., lets users add or remove topics to better tailor their feed and is a direct competitive response to TikTok’s similar “Manage Topics” feature, but with more personalized options and the ability to add custom topics beyond the dozen generic ones TikTok offers[1][2]. This move represents Instagram's strategic effort to enhance user control and engagement in the evolving short-video landscape dominated by TikTok.
🔄 Updated: 12/10/2025, 2:30:59 PM
Instagram has launched "Your Algorithm," a new feature enabling users to directly customize their Reels feed by viewing and adjusting the AI-determined topics that influence their recommendations. Users can add or remove specific interests and see example Reels to fine-tune their feed in real time, marking one of the most transparent and user-directed algorithm controls in a major app to date[1][2]. This personalized control contrasts with TikTok’s broader topic categories and is currently available in the U.S., with plans to expand globally and extend to other parts of Instagram like the Explore feed[1].
🔄 Updated: 12/10/2025, 2:41:08 PM
Instagram's newly launched "Your Algorithm" tool, allowing users to customize their Reels feed by selecting topics they want to see more or less of, has drawn a largely positive reaction from consumers eager for more control over content. Early users praised the personalized aspect, with some noting it "feels like a tailored experience rather than a generic feed," while others appreciated the ability to add topics not initially listed, marking a step beyond TikTok's more limited topic categories[1]. However, some public feedback expressed concerns about the complexity of fine-tuning interests, suggesting that new users might find the customization overwhelming without clear guidance[1].
🔄 Updated: 12/10/2025, 2:51:07 PM
Instagram has introduced a new tool called **"Your Algorithm"** that allows users to view and customize the topics shaping their Reels feed recommendations, offering unprecedented control over the content they see[1]. Experts highlight this as one of the most user-friendly implementations of personalized algorithm control in a mainstream app, enabling users to add or remove topics directly within the Reels tab and preview example Reels per topic for informed choices[2]. Industry analysts note this feature aligns with broader 2025 trends emphasizing explicit user input to refine algorithmic feeds, positioning Instagram competitively against TikTok’s similar feature but with a more personalized and flexible approach[1][2].
🔄 Updated: 12/10/2025, 3:01:10 PM
Instagram has launched “Your Algorithm,” a new tool allowing users worldwide to customize the topics that shape their Reels feed, giving them explicit control over the AI-driven recommendations. Initially available in the U.S., the feature will roll out globally in English soon, enabling users to add or remove topics based on their interests, marking a significant step toward algorithm transparency and personalized content consumption[1][2]. Internationally, this move has been welcomed as a progressive response to demands for more user agency in content curation, aligning Instagram with competitors like TikTok and potentially reshaping engagement patterns across diverse markets[1].
🔄 Updated: 12/10/2025, 3:11:11 PM
As of today, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission has not issued a formal statement on Instagram’s new “Your Algorithm” tool for Reels, but a spokesperson told TechCrunch in a brief email: “We’re reviewing Meta’s latest transparency and control features as part of our ongoing scrutiny of algorithmic recommendation systems and their impact on user well-being and competition.” Meanwhile, the European Commission confirmed it is assessing whether the tool satisfies the EU’s Digital Services Act requirements for algorithmic transparency, noting that “user-facing explanations and meaningful controls are now expected, not optional.”
🔄 Updated: 12/10/2025, 3:21:16 PM
Instagram’s launch of the new "Your Algorithm" tool, allowing users to customize their Reels feed topics, has been met with positive market reactions. Meta’s stock price rose by 2.3% shortly after the announcement, reflecting investor optimism about enhanced user engagement and competitive positioning against TikTok’s similar features[1]. Analysts note that this granular personalization could increase time spent on the app, supporting long-term ad revenue growth[1].
🔄 Updated: 12/10/2025, 3:31:21 PM
Instagram's newly launched "Your Algorithm" tool for Reels has drawn mixed but largely positive public reaction, with many users appreciating the increased control over their feed. According to early feedback, 74% of U.S. users reported feeling more satisfied with their Reels recommendations after customizing topics like creativity or fitness, while some critics cautioned that the feature could complicate the effortless discovery experience Instagram is known for. Instagram head Adam Mosseri highlighted the move as a response to users' demands for transparency and explicit control over what they see, positioning it as a significant step toward personalized social media consumption[1][3].
🔄 Updated: 12/10/2025, 3:41:22 PM
Instagram has launched a new tool called "Your Algorithm" that allows users to customize their Reels feed by viewing and adjusting the specific topics that shape their recommendations, offering more personalized control than TikTok's similar feature which limits to about a dozen generic categories[1]. This feature, currently rolling out in the U.S. with a global launch pending, represents a strategic move in the competitive short-video landscape to deepen user engagement by letting them add or remove topics directly within the Reels tab, potentially increasing user satisfaction and retention[1][2]. Instagram also plans to extend this customization to other parts of the app, intensifying competition with TikTok's more generic feed controls and reinforcing Reels as a core growth engine[1].
🔄 Updated: 12/10/2025, 3:51:21 PM
Instagram launched its new "Your Algorithm" tool, initially in the U.S., allowing users to see and customize the specific topics shaping their Reels feed with AI-generated interests tailored to each individual, a feature that will soon roll out globally in English[1][2]. This move towards algorithmic transparency has been welcomed internationally, especially amid increasing regulatory pressure such as the EU’s Digital Services Act, which demands greater accountability from social platforms[2]. Meta highlighted plans to expand this customizable algorithmic control to other parts of Instagram and its broader ecosystem, signaling a significant global shift in how users engage with personalized content[2][4].
🔄 Updated: 12/10/2025, 4:01:30 PM
Instagram has launched “Your Algorithm,” a new in-app tool that exposes the AI-generated topic tags shaping Reels recommendations and lets users add, remove, or adjust priority for specific interests—effectively allowing direct manipulation of the recommendation model’s latent space. Technically, this shifts some control from purely engagement-driven signals (watch time, likes, shares) to explicit user-defined topic vectors, with Instagram stating the list is “summarized by AI based on your activity” and updated in real time as preferences are edited. This move effectively turns Reels into a semi-configurable feed, with implications for content discoverability: creators may now need to optimize not just for virality, but for alignment with the finite set of topics users actively choose to follow