Instagram tests deeper algorithm customization tools

Instagram is testing new ways for users to customize their algorithm. The social media platform, owned by Meta, is looking to evolve its “Your Algorithm” feature—which allows users to specify which topics they want to see more of and less of—from a static setting into a central part of the user experience. According to Instagram head Adam Mosseri, the company wants to transition the feature from a basic setting into an element that feels central to the overall Instagram experience. The tests represent an effort to integrate customization tools more deeply into the daily user interface.

The experimental features introduce several new access points within the app’s interface. In examples shared by Mosseri, users could access the “Your Algorithm” menu by pulling down on their main Instagram feed or by swiping up from a Reel to trigger a customization prompt. Another test includes direct feedback buttons placed beneath individual Reels, allowing users to quickly signal whether they want to see more Reels like it. However, Mosseri cautioned that these updates are still in the testing phase and are not guaranteed to become permanent fixtures of the app. He noted that while some of these features are currently in testing and others are coming soon, some of them might not ultimately work.

Despite the push for granular control, user feedback remains focused on a simpler desire: seeing content from accounts they already follow. The most popular comments on Mosseri’s post all make the same request, highlighting a disconnect between the platform’s feature development and basic user preferences. As one commenter on Mosseri’s post wrote, “WE JUST WANT OUR ALGORITHM TO SHOW THE PPL WE FOLLOW.” This reaction highlights a preference among many users to simply see content from the accounts they already follow.

Why it matters

As platforms face pressure to balance algorithmic discovery with user agency, Instagram’s move to make feed tuning a core interaction signals a shift toward giving users more direct control over their content consumption.