Instagram has expanded its Your Algorithm feature to the main feed, giving users a new way to influence what content appears in their daily scroll. The tool, which lets users select and adjust topic preferences based on their in-app activity, was first tested for Reels in October 2025, then rolled out to the Explore feed in April 2026 before reaching the main feed.
A Long-Awaited Control for Users
The feature works by presenting users with a list of topics generated by Instagram’s system, derived from their existing activity. Users can add or remove topics, and those changes then feed back into the algorithm to adjust what content is prioritised for them. It marks a notable shift in how Meta is positioning user agency within Instagram, giving people a more direct voice in shaping their experience rather than relying solely on passive behavioural signals.
Instagram chief Adam Mosseri has acknowledged that the rise of AI-driven recommendations has quietly eroded the role that following accounts once played. He noted that users’ in-app actions — taps, watches, and shares — inform the algorithm, but users have had no real way to directly communicate their preferences back to the system.
Will Users Actually Engage With It?
Despite the appeal of greater control, industry observers remain sceptical about real-world adoption. Meta’s own engagement data consistently shows that algorithmic recommendations — not manual curation — drive higher usage. The company appears to be betting that most users won’t actively update their topic preferences, even when given the option. In that sense, the feature may serve more as a reassurance tool than a widely used function, addressing user concerns about algorithmic control without significantly disrupting Meta’s engagement-driven model.
Mosseri has suggested that within a few years, AI could enable fully personalised, real-time app experiences — though how much of that vision will be user-led remains to be seen.