Instagram’s new Reels algorithm update is rolling out with one goal: giving people more control over what shows up in their feeds. Many users search for how to fix unwanted Reels, how to reset the Instagram algorithm, or how to stop seeing irrelevant videos — and this update answers those questions right away. The feature uses AI to reveal the topics Instagram already thinks you care about and lets you add or remove interests in a few taps. With recommendations shifting constantly, Instagram says it wants to help users steer what appears in Reels more intentionally. The update is live in the US and arriving globally in English soon.
Instagram calls the feature “Your Algorithm,” a new AI tool designed to personalize Reels based on your evolving interests. Once enabled, it displays an AI-generated list of topics Instagram believes match your viewing behavior. Users can scroll through, remove categories that feel off, or add entirely new interest areas to shift the feed in a new direction. The experience is meant to make Reels feel less random and more reflective of what users actually want to watch.
To access the tool, users just tap the small icon at the top right of any Reel — the one that looks like two hearts on slider lines. This opens a panel showing recommended topics and a menu to adjust them. Instagram says the goal is to make personalization more intuitive and reduce the frustration of repeatedly telling the algorithm what you don’t want to see. Users can even share their topic lists directly on their Instagram Stories.
This Reels algorithm update represents a broader shift at Instagram: allowing users to play a bigger role in shaping their feed. In its announcement, the company emphasized that interests change, and recommendations should reflect that. AI helps cluster user behavior into topics, but people can now edit those clusters in real time. The company says this approach should create a more meaningful Reels experience, especially for users who rely heavily on the platform for entertainment and discovery.
Instagram confirmed that algorithm controls won’t stop with Reels. The company is preparing to bring adjustable recommendations to the Explore tab and eventually more surfaces across the app. This means users will soon edit broader discovery signals, not just short-form video preferences. As Instagram brings algorithm transparency to more features, it positions itself as a social app where user choice shapes the experience.
Meta is also building similar controls for Threads, Instagram’s fast-growing companion app. Users will soon be able to fine-tune their Threads feed by tagging posts with “dear algo”, which tells the system to show more — or less — of specific content types. This playful approach gives users a lightweight way to train the algorithm without digging through settings menus. It also signals Meta’s bigger strategy: turning algorithm feedback into a normal part of the user experience across its apps.
Alongside the Reels update, Meta is rolling out new ways to tell Instagram and Facebook why a recommendation isn’t relevant. The company says clearer feedback will help its systems adjust faster and reduce the repetition of unhelpful content. Meta plans to expand these options in the coming months as it works toward a unified vision of customizable feeds driven by both AI and user intention.
The Reels algorithm update marks one of Instagram’s most user-centric changes in years. By revealing how recommendations work and giving people the ability to rewrite them, Instagram is moving toward a more transparent and participatory model. With similar features coming to Explore, Feed, and Threads, Meta is betting that customizable algorithms will become a core expectation — not a niche feature — for the next generation of social platforms.
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