‘Your Algorithm’ Lets Instagram Users Personalise Reels Like Never Before

Instagram has rolled out a new feature that gives users unprecedented control over how their Reels recommendations are shaped. The feature, called Your Algorithm, allows people to view the signals Instagram’s AI uses to determine their interests and adjust them instantly. Launched first in the United States, the update will expand globally in the coming months, signalling a major shift toward transparency and user empowerment across the platform.

Your Algorithm can be accessed through a new icon two lines with hearts in the top-right corner of the Reels tab. Once opened, users see a personalised dashboard outlining the topics Instagram believes they engage with most. These categories, derived from recent activity, can include anything from gaming and painting to beauty content, comedy formats, or film genres. Users can tap to indicate which themes they want to see more or less of, and the Reels feed updates immediately.Instagram describes the feature as a meaningful step in giving people more influence over recommendation engines that have traditionally been central to discovery but largely hidden from view. Users can also share their interest summaries to their stories, giving followers a peek into how the platform reads their preferences. The company has confirmed that similar controls will soon come to Explore and other surfaces across the app.

This launch arrives at a time when social platforms face increasing scrutiny from regulators and users over the influence of algorithms. Critics warn that opaque systems can create echo chambers or amplify harmful content. By revealing how its AI interprets behaviour and allowing real-time adjustments, Instagram positions Your Algorithm as an answer to evolving expectations around transparency, safety, and user autonomy.With this update, Instagram becomes one of the first major platforms to give users direct, hands-on control over the signals shaping their digital experiences—marking a new era in personalised discovery.