Instagram is finally introducing a clear way to manage what you see, and understanding how to control Instagram recommendations has never been easier. The platform is rolling out a new AI-powered feature that lets users personalize the topics that shape their Reels feed. After years of watching the algorithm decide everything, Instagram is now giving people more influence over the content they encounter.
The feature, called Your Algorithm, is launching first for Reels, with plans to expand into Explore and additional surfaces across the app. With Instagram investing heavily in AI, this shift represents a rare moment where automation hands some control back to the user.
Why Instagram Introduced a New Way to Control Recommendations
Users have complained for years that Instagram feels random, repetitive or disconnected from their interests. Meanwhile, the company faced pressure from TikTok, whose recommendation controls are clearer and more flexible. Because of this, Meta appears eager to provide a more transparent system.
In its announcement, Instagram said it wants recommendations to evolve alongside users’ real interests. According to the blog post, AI will still drive suggestions, but users can now meaningfully adjust which topics influence their feed.
This represents an important step: instead of simply reacting to posts, users can now shape the input that drives the algorithm.
How to Control Instagram Recommendations With the New “Your Algorithm” Feature
Instagram’s new controls are simple, but they bring a surprising level of customization. To access them, users tap the icon with two lines and hearts in the Reels tab. This opens the Your Algorithm panel, where Instagram displays a list of topics it believes match the user’s interests.
Once inside, you can:
See Your Top Interests
Instagram summarizes the topics that most influence your feed. This transparency helps users understand why they keep seeing certain types of videos.
Tune Your Preferences
You can search for and modify topics you want to see more or less of. As you adjust them, your recommendations adapt in real time. Consequently, the app becomes more reflective of what you genuinely want—not what the algorithm assumes.
Share Your Algorithm
If you wish, you can share your curated interests as a Story. This feature turns your algorithm into a social object, giving followers a glimpse into what inspires your feed.
Over time, these tools should reduce the feeling that Instagram surfaces irrelevant content. Instead, users gain a clear path to influence what appears next.
How to Control Instagram Recommendations When AI Makes Mistakes
While the new tools promise more control, Instagram introduced another AI-powered system this week — one that sparked frustration. Users discovered that Instagram began generating AI-written headlines and descriptions for posts when they appear in search results.
These AI-generated “SEO titles” often include dramatic phrasing or inaccurate details. In some cases, the system even referenced unrelated products or fictionalized descriptions. Because of this, creators voiced concerns about misrepresentation and platform transparency.
This issue highlights a contradiction: Instagram wants users to shape recommendations, yet AI continues to rewrite content in ways people cannot control.
Still, when it comes to recommendations inside the app, the Your Algorithm tool provides a direct way to correct mistakes and reinforce your values, tastes, and preferences.
How to Control Instagram Recommendations Across Future Features
Instagram confirmed that this system will expand beyond Reels. Soon, Explore and other parts of the app will also reflect the topics you adjust. Because of that, the Your Algorithm feature represents a long-term shift toward configurable personalization.
Additionally, Meta continues to invest aggressively in AI. The company’s recent acquisitions suggest that more algorithm-driven tools will appear across Instagram in the coming months. Even so, the ability to fine-tune recommendations gives users a foundation of control that wasn’t available before.
For people who often feel overwhelmed by irrelevant content, this update may significantly improve the overall browsing experience.
Final Thoughts: How to Control Instagram Recommendations More Effectively
Instagram’s new Your Algorithm feature marks a meaningful change in how users can interact with AI-driven personalization. By giving people the option to review and adjust their interests, the platform offers clearer visibility into why certain videos appear — and how to shift the content mix.
Although AI still powers the system, the added transparency and customization tools help users reclaim agency. As Instagram rolls these controls into more areas, personalization may finally start to feel like collaboration rather than guesswork.
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