For years, Instagram users have wondered why certain videos keep showing up on their Reels feed. Sometimes the app gets your interests right—and sometimes it doesn’t. Many people feel stuck watching the same type of content over and over, even after their interests change.
But now, Instagram is giving users more power. With its new feature called ‘Your Algorithm,’ the platform finally lets people control what they want to see on Reels. This is a major step toward transparency and personalization. Instagram says this upgrade is only the beginning, and similar controls will soon come to Explore and other parts of the app.
If you’ve ever been annoyed by repetitive videos or irrelevant Reels, this update will feel like a breath of fresh air. With a few taps, you can now adjust your interests and shape your feed the way you want.
The New Era of Personalized Content Discovery
There are millions of Reels uploaded every day, covering everything from cooking to comedy and beauty tutorials to football highlights. Instagram uses a smart algorithm to choose which videos it thinks you will like.
But your tastes don’t stay the same forever. Maybe you used to enjoy “GRWM” (Get Ready With Me) videos, but now you care more about “Chess Tips” or “Painting Ideas.” The old algorithm didn’t always adapt quickly. Once it thought you liked something, it kept showing it—sometimes for weeks.
That’s exactly why Your Algorithm was created. It puts you in control by letting you choose the topics you want more of and hide the ones you don’t care about anymore.
Instead of the app guessing what you like, you can now guide it with simple, clear choices.
How to Access and Tweak Your Reels Algorithm
Instagram made this new feature easy to find. When you open your Reels feed, you’ll notice a new icon in the top-right corner. It looks like two lines with small hearts—a symbol for tuning your content.
Here’s how it works:
1. See Your Current Interests
When you tap the icon, Instagram shows you a short list of what it thinks you’re into. It may say things like:
“You’ve been watching creativity videos.”
“You enjoy sports hype clips.”
“You seem interested in fitness motivation.”
“You watch skateboarding and vlog-style content.”
It might even show niche topics like “Horror Movies” or “Painting.”
This is the first time Instagram is clearly telling users what the algorithm believes they like. You can even share this interest list as an Instagram Story—similar to how people share their Spotify Wrapped.
2. Choose What You Want to See More Of
Below the interest summary, you’ll see suggested topics. These include:
Food
Fashion
Travel
Painting
Chess
Makeup
Fitness
Music genres
And many more
You can tap on topics you want Instagram to show you more often.
3. Remove Topics You Don’t Want
You can also tell Instagram what you want to see less of. If you’re tired of certain styles of videos—like “Prank Videos” or “GRWM”—you can simply remove them. This helps clean up your feed much faster than before.
4. Add Your Own Interests
If you don’t see your new hobby or favorite topic on the list, you can type it in. This makes your Reels feed even more personal and accurate.
Why This Change Matters for Users and Creators
This new feature helps both sides of Instagram—everyday users and content creators.
For Users
You get a cleaner, more enjoyable feed
You escape annoying or repeated content loops
You see videos that match your real interests
You save time and discover more of what you love
Most importantly, Instagram no longer controls everything—you do.
For Creators
The update is equally important. When users choose specific interests like “Vintage Sneakers” or “Home Coffee Recipes,” creators making that exact content get matched with a more interested audience.
This means:
Better reach
More engagement
More loyal followers
A fairer system for niche creators
Small creators with specialized content can finally grow more easily because users can directly select the topics they love.
SEO and the Future of Instagram Content Discovery
This update also connects to a bigger trend: Instagram is slowly becoming a search engine. Younger users often search for recipes, fashion ideas, travel spots, and tutorials directly through Instagram—not Google.
Because of this shift, keywords and clear topics are now even more important.
Creators who use simple, direct topic words in their captions, hashtags, and on-screen text will appear more often when users select those interests in “Your Algorithm.”
Optimizing Your Content for the New Algorithmic Control
If creators want to get discovered, their content must be easy for Instagram to understand. The platform needs clear signals to match videos to user-selected interests.
Good practices include:
Using simple keywords in captions
Adding topic titles on screen
Writing descriptive alt-text
Using hashtags that match the actual video
Creating content focused on one main topic
For example:
If users choose “Watercolor Painting,” a creator’s caption should actually include “watercolor painting,” not vague phrases like “today’s art vibe.”
This isn’t keyword stuffing—it’s natural clarity that helps both the viewer and the algorithm.
Global Rollout and What’s Coming Next
The Your Algorithm Instagram feature is launching first in the United States. English-speaking users around the world will get it next. Instagram says this rollout helps them test and improve the feature before it becomes global.
Over time, Instagram plans to add these controls to the Explore page, meaning you’ll be able to personalize your entire app experience—not just your Reels feed.
This shift also responds to user demands and global pressure for more transparency from big tech. By giving people more control, Instagram is showing that it’s ready to evolve.
Taking Back Control of Your Reels Feed
Instagram’s ‘Your Algorithm’ feature is one of the platform’s biggest updates in years. It gives users real control, lets creators reach the right audience, and makes the whole app more enjoyable. Instead of being stuck in endless loops of repetitive content, you can now shape your feed based on what truly interests you.
Whether you’re curious about a new hobby, trying to escape boring videos, or simply want fresh content, this tool is a major win. Look for the new icon in your Reels tab and start adjusting your topics—this is your chance to take back control of the Instagram algorithm and enjoy a more personal, relevant, and fun experience.