Instagram’s new Your Algorithm tool helps you correct what your Reels feed gets wrong
The feature gives users a clearer view of how Instagram defines their interests and lets them adjust the signals shaping their Reels recommendations.
Instagram is finally handing you the keys to your own algorithm, at least for Reels. The platform is rolling out a new feature called Your Algorithm, giving users a peek at how Instagram decides what shows up in their feed and the ability to shape it directly.
When you scroll through Reels, you'll see a new icon in the top right corner, two lines with tiny hearts. Tapping it opens a dashboard that lists the topics Instagram thinks you care about. These are based on your activity and AI signals across the app. Your summary might read something like creativity, sports hype, fitness motivation or skateboarding. And yes, Instagram clearly expects people to share this as a kind of Reels Wrapped.
Beneath the summary is a deeper list of interests you can adjust. If you want more of a topic, tap it. If you want less, you can dial it down. You can also type in entirely new interests that Instagram hasn't picked up on yet, something TikTok’s controls still don't allow.
The timing also isn't a coincidence. TikTok introduced its Manage Topics feature last year, giving users a modest level of control over their For You Page. Instagram’s version goes further by generating a personalised list that reflects what you actually watch rather than broad topic categories.
For now, Your Algorithm is launching in the United States, with a wider English rollout planned soon. Instagram says it'll eventually expand the feature beyond Reels to areas like Explore, which would give users even more influence over the recommendations they see across the app.
The takeaway
Instagram is acknowledging a shift in user expectations. People want feeds that feel intentional rather than mysterious. Your Algorithm makes that possible by showing how Instagram interprets your interests and letting you reshape that understanding. It's a meaningful move toward transparency and a clear answer to TikTok’s influence. If Instagram applies this level of control across more surfaces, your feed may finally start to feel like something you actually built.
Ogbonda Chivumnovu
