Instagram Introduces “Your Algorithm” Tab to Give Users Control Over Reels

Meta, the parent company of Instagram, has rolled out a new feature that allows users to see and influence the algorithm behind the Reels they see on the platform. This new tab, called “Your Algorithm,” is now available in the U.S. and will soon be released in other parts of the world.

How “Your Algorithm” Works

The “Your Algorithm” tab can be found in the top right corner of the Reels feed, represented by two lines with heart icons. Once opened, users will see a summary of the type of content the algorithm says they have liked recently. For example, users may see a summary such as “Lately you’ve been into creativity, sports hype, fitness motivation, and skateboarding.”

Customizing Your Algorithm

Users can then choose specific content categories they would like to see more or less of in their feed. They can tap on the “Add” button to contribute their own requests, and even test drive new content types before locking them in. This feature is similar to TikTok’s “Manage Topics” feed, which allows users to adjust the content types that appear in their For You feed.

Additional Features and Concerns

The “Your Algorithm” tab also includes shortcuts to existing content controls, such as suggesting political content on the feed and sensitive content controls. Users can also share their algorithm summary to their story, although it’s unclear who would want to do that. Meta is facing criticism over how it handles younger users on its platforms, and this new feature is part of a string of efforts to make it easier for users to control their experience on Meta platforms.

Implications and Future Developments

The introduction of “Your Algorithm” is a significant step towards giving users more control over their experience on Instagram. However, critics argue that there is still much work to be done to make social media platforms less addictive and better for users. As one user noted, even with this new feature, they still found themselves losing five minutes of their life watching the first video that appeared in their feed.

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