Instagram has announced the launch of a new tool designed to give users unprecedented control over their content recommendations, starting with its popular Reels feature. The tool, named “Your Algorithm,” allows users to view and customize the topics that influence the content they see, marking a significant step towards greater transparency and personalization on the platform.
How ‘Your Algorithm’ Works
While browsing Reels, users will now notice a new icon in the upper right corner of the screen. Tapping this icon opens the “Your Algorithm” interface, which presents a summary of the topics Instagram’s AI believes are most relevant to the user based on their recent activity.
A unique social element allows users to share this algorithmic summary to their Story, similar to the popular year-end wrap-ups from platforms like Spotify. This feature provides a shareable snapshot of a user’s current interests, such as “Lately you’ve been into creativity, sports hype, fitness motivation, and skateboarding.”
Customization and Control
Below the AI-generated summary, the tool displays a detailed list of interest topics. Here, users can actively shape their feed by selecting to see “more” or “less” of specific topics, which will immediately adapt their Reels recommendations.
Furthermore, if a user’s interest is not listed, they have the option to manually add new topics to their profile. This proactive customization ensures that the algorithm can be trained to better align with a user’s evolving preferences.
A Competitive Edge Over TikTok
The move directly follows TikTok’s introduction of its “Manage Topics” feature last year. While both tools aim to give users more control, Instagram’s approach offers a deeper level of personalization.
Unlike TikTok, which presents a set of generic topic categories, Instagram’s “Your Algorithm” generates a list of interests that is uniquely tailored to each user. The ability to add new, user-defined topics further distinguishes Instagram’s tool, providing a more granular and dynamic method of content curation.
Relevance for the MENA Region
For the MENA region’s vibrant ecosystem of founders, marketers, and content creators, this update is particularly significant. Startups and brands can now encourage their followers to add relevant topics to their algorithm, creating a direct path to increase the visibility of their content. This offers a more organic and user-driven alternative to paid advertising for reaching targeted audiences.
Content creators across the Middle East can leverage this tool to better understand what resonates with their viewers and refine their content strategy accordingly. As users curate their feeds to reflect local and cultural interests—from regional comedy to Islamic art or local startup news—it creates new opportunities for niche creators to be discovered by a more engaged audience. The feature is currently rolling out in the U.S. and will be available globally in English soon.
About Instagram
Instagram is a social networking service owned by Meta Platforms. It allows users to share photos and videos, which can be edited with filters and organized by hashtags and geographical tagging. The platform has expanded to include features like Stories, Reels, and IGTV, making it a central hub for visual content, influencer marketing, and social commerce worldwide.
Source: TechCrunch
