Instagram Rolls Out Algorithm Control Feature for Reels: What It Means for Your Feed

Doomscrollers, take note: your Instagram feed may soon stop feeling like a mystery box. On Wednesday 29 October, Instagram’s chief Adam Mosseri announced, “We’re starting to publicly test the ability to see and control your algorithm to a small percentage of users in the US this week.”

 At first glance this may read like a minor tweak. But – stick with us – it’s a meaningful step in tech’s march toward giving users more agency over the apps they spend hours in.

Reclaiming control in the social-scroll era has become a hot topic amongst Instagram’s users.

Here’s how it works: inside the Reels tab, a new section called ‘Your Algorithm’ will show you the topics Instagram thinks you’re into.

“This is a way to see and control your algorithm that we’re starting to test with a small percentage of users this week… You can see everything we think you’re interested in, and you can actually add and remove interests,” Mosseri explained. The message is clear: it’s your feed, you should get a say in it.

“When I go to my Reels tab, and this only applies to the Reals tab for now and I scroll, I’ll start to see content related to those topics I’ve added with a little indication letting me know because you should be able to see and control your algorithm,” Mosseri went on to say. 

So what’s going on behind the scenes? Instagram is effectively handing you a simplified dashboard of the AI-powered recommendation engine that drives what you see. 

You’ll get to view topic groups, for example “interior design,” “street style,” or “viral pets,” and manually add or remove them. Tap into any topic and you’ll even see sample Reels that fall under it – letting you decide: “Yes, I dig this,” or “Actually, no thanks.” This is a pretty compelling example of custom algorithm control – perhaps the most digestible one from a social app yet.

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User @rpn was given early access and shared screenshots of the feature on Threads saying, “I think this is a big opportunity for both creators and consumers, as content will be better matched with the people most interested in it, especially with MSL’s work (presumably) improving the ranking & recommendations engine. Transparent algorithm overviews are a very welcome change.”

That said – there’s a catch. While this feature sounds empowering, making it work in practice depends on you actually doing something. Historically it’s been the same story with data-controls, feed-preferences and block lists: the option is welcome, the usage less clear. The illusion of control might matter more than actual control.

A look at Instagram’s personalised topic dashboard – from “Educational Tech Breakdowns” to “Streamer Drama” – showing users exactly what their algorithm believes they want to see. (Credit: @rpn)

Behind it all is a strategic move by Meta Platforms: their apps rely heavily on AI-driven, attention-optimised feeds. The more reliable and engaging the algorithm, the more screen-time and ad-dollars. So when they offer seemingly user-friendly control options, it may also serve as a public-facing salve for concerns around opaque algorithmic manipulation, echo-chambers or over-exposure.

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For creators, brands and power-users this update changes the calculus a little. On one hand: users could disengage from topics you specialise in. On the other: this transparency could mean more fine-tuned targeting, and arguably, less noise. If someone explicitly removes “beauty tutorials” from their algorithm, maybe your hair-care Reel stands a better chance when it does appear because it fits their selected preferences. For everyday users (hello, Modems IT-girls) it’s a chance to map your digital self a little more closely to your real‐self. Want more travel inspo, fewer dog-videos? This is your window.

A peek inside Instagram’s new “Your Algorithm” feature – where users can now choose to see less of viral fluff and more of what actually fuels their creativity. (Credit: @rpn)

So yes, it’s not a universal release yet – only a small percentage of U.S. users for now. And yes, the actual uptake will tell the full story. But in the wider shift toward more accountable tech systems, it matters. Because when your algorithm becomes editable, the narrative of “the feed knows you” shifts toward “you know the feed.”

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The takeaway? Keep an eye on your Reels settings, think about whether you want a more active role in curating your shop-window of content – and remember: algorithms may be smart, but you’re smarter.

Whether you’re building your IG aesthetic, curating mood-boards, or just want fewer lip-syncing cat-videos (…maybe that’s just me), this moment feels like a small but meaningful step in recasting our relationship with social feed engines. That’s the kind of tech-meets-lifestyle update we at The Modems live for.