Instagram just handed over the remote control. For the first time, you can actually see what topics its algorithm thinks you like and adjust them yourself.

The new “Your Algorithm” feature launches today in the US for Reels. Plus, it’s coming to Explore and other parts of the app later. This mirrors what TikTok already offers, but better late than never.

Here’s what changed. Instagram’s AI now shows you exactly which topics drive your recommendations. Then you can tell it what you want more or less of. Your feed adapts based on those choices.

How the Algorithm Control Actually Works

Open any Reel and tap the icon in the upper right corner. It looks like two lines with hearts. That opens Your Algorithm.

You’ll see a summary of topics Instagram thinks you care about. These sit at the top of the list. So if the algorithm pegged you as a cooking enthusiast but you’re actually into fitness, you can fix that now.

Type in topics you want to see more of. Type in ones you want to see less of. Instagram adjusts your Reels accordingly. The changes happen pretty fast, though the company didn’t specify exact timing.

Instagram shows topics algorithm thinks you like and adjust them

Moreover, you can share your algorithm settings to your Story. That lets friends see what topics interest you. It’s an odd social feature, but some people might enjoy comparing interests with their circle.

Fine-Tuning Beyond Basic Topics

The controls go deeper than simple yes-or-no switches. You can specify how much more or less you want to see of each topic.

For instance, maybe you enjoy cooking content but not every single recipe video. You can dial down the volume without eliminating it entirely. That’s more nuanced than the old “not interested” button that felt like a sledgehammer.

Instagram says the AI learns from your adjustments over time. So the more you interact with these controls, the better your recommendations should get. In theory, anyway.

Here’s the catch. This only works for Reels right now. Your main feed, Stories, and other sections still run on the old system. Instagram promises those areas will get algorithm controls eventually, but didn’t commit to a timeline.

Why This Matters for Regular Users

Instagram algorithm control lets users adjust topic preferences for Reels

Social media algorithms have felt like black boxes for years. You see what the platform decides you should see. If you hate it, tough luck.

TikTok changed that by showing users their recommendation topics. It gave people a sense of control, even if the algorithm still had the final say. Now Instagram is catching up.

But there’s a bigger issue at play. Instagram’s AI-powered features haven’t all landed well recently. Yesterday, users discovered the platform was generating sensational headlines that often misrepresented the actual content. Those headlines appeared to come from a large language model making things up.

So while algorithm transparency is good, it also highlights how much AI now drives these platforms. Meta clearly plans to lean harder into AI across its apps, judging by recent acquisitions and internal priority shifts.

That raises questions. How accurate is the algorithm at identifying your interests? How much does manual adjustment actually override the AI’s decisions? Instagram didn’t address those concerns in its announcement.

The Bigger Picture on AI Control

Meta wants users to feel like they’re steering the ship. But they’re also pouring resources into AI systems that ultimately make the calls.

TikTok already offers recommendation controls that Instagram is now implementing

Your Algorithm gives the illusion of control. You can tell Instagram what you want. Yet the AI still decides how to interpret those preferences, what content fits each category, and how aggressively to push recommendations.

Still, it’s better than nothing. At minimum, you can course-correct when the algorithm goes completely off track. That’s more power than users had last week.

The feature rolls out to US users starting today. Instagram says international users will get access “in the future” without specifying when. Typical staged rollout approach.

One more thing. This only covers recommendation algorithms, not your main feed of posts from accounts you follow. That distinction matters. The algorithm control affects what Instagram suggests, not what your friends share.

So if your main feed still feels off, this won’t fix it. But if your Reels tab keeps showing content you hate, now you can finally do something about it.

Instagram is late to transparency here. But at least they showed up. Now we’ll see if other Meta platforms like Facebook and Threads follow with similar controls.

Your move, algorithm.