Instagram has rolled out its “Your Algorithm” manual control feature to all English-speaking users, enabling them to customize their Reels experience by adding or removing topics of interest through a slider icon in the Reels feed. This allows users to influence their personal content algorithms and see examples of related videos. However, there is concern that this customization might reduce overall Reels usage, as AI-recommended content currently drives high user engagement.
User Behavior and Preferences
Although users often express a desire for more control over their feeds, most do not actively manage these options, preferring instead to scroll through content that naturally aligns with their interests. Despite this tendency, Instagram plans to let users select three top interests for their Reels feed starting in 2026, aiming to better tailor the algorithm to individual preferences.
Broader Social Media Trends
This move aligns with a wider trend among social media platforms like Facebook and Threads to give users more control over the content they see. The effectiveness of these manual controls will depend on how engaged users are with them and their views on Meta’s algorithmic influence.
Impact and Implications
While algorithms currently boost engagement by recommending content, the addition of manual customization options represents a step toward addressing concerns about algorithmic manipulation. However, it is unlikely to significantly alter overall user behavior.
