Instagram Expands Algorithm Controls to All English-Speaking Users

Instagram has expanded access to its manual Reels customization feature, announcing that all English-speaking users worldwide can now use its “Your Algorithm” controls. The rollout follows limited testing that began in October 2025 and marks another step in Meta’s broader effort to give users more visibility and influence over algorithm-driven content.

The feature allows users to directly shape what appears in their Reels feed by selecting and removing topics of interest. The controls can be accessed from the Reels feed via a slider icon, where users are shown topic categories and sample videos associated with each selection. Instagram says the goal is to give people clearer input into how their recommendations are formed, rather than relying entirely on automated signals such as watch time and engagement.

Alongside the expanded availability, Instagram is also introducing a new option for 2026 that lets users choose up to three “top interests” to guide their Reels experience over the year. These preferences are designed to further influence the recommendation system, offering a higher-level way to steer content toward specific themes.

The update comes as social platforms face growing pressure from regulators and users to provide greater transparency and control over algorithmic feeds. In recent years, algorithms have become central to engagement growth on platforms like Instagram, particularly through short-form video. Reels, in particular, has been a major driver of time spent in the app, largely powered by AI-based recommendations.

Instagram’s move aligns with similar experiments across Meta’s ecosystem. Facebook and Threads have both introduced features that allow users to fine-tune what they see, mute certain topics, or prioritize specific content types. Collectively, these updates suggest a shift toward offering reassurance and perceived agency, without dismantling the engagement-driven systems that underpin platform growth.