Instagram tests new 'Your Algorithm' controls for feeds and Reels: What they mean for users

Instagram is testing a new set of features aimed at giving users greater control over the content recommended by its algorithm. The tests build on Meta's "Your Algorithm" feature by making recommendation controls easier to access while users browse the app.Instagram head Adam Mosseri showcased several experimental features that would allow users to directly influence the content they see across their feed and Reels. According to Mosseri, some of the features are already being tested, some will arrive later, while others may never be rolled out.New ways to personalise recommendationsAmong the changes under evaluation is a shortcut that opens the "Your Algorithm" menu when users pull down while scrolling through their feed. Another test introduces a swipe-up gesture on Reels that brings up similar recommendation controls.Instagram is also experimenting with controls beneath individual Reels, allowing users to indicate whether they want to see more or less content similar to a particular video.The company said the new tools are intended to make recommendation controls easier to use instead of requiring users to search through settings. Alongside existing signals such as likes, comments and watch time, Instagram could use these direct inputs to better understand individual preferences.If introduced, the changes could help users refine recommendations across the home feed, Reels and Explore page, making it easier to adjust or reshape the content surfaced by the platform over time.Mosseri said Instagram wants to evolve "Your Algorithm" from a settings option into a feature that feels central to the app experience.Users still want posts from followed accounts first Despite the new experiments, many users responding to Mosseri's announcement continued to call for a different change. The most common request was for Instagram to prioritise posts from accounts they already follow instead of recommending content from creators they do not follow.Instagram has not indicated whether it plans to make that change. For now, the company is focused on testing new ways for users to influence recommendations across the app.