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💡Social Media Platforms Give Users Algorithm Control

You can now tweak your social feed's algorithm

TL;DR

Instagram and TikTok are rolling out tools to let users customize their recommendation algorithms. Threads lets you personalize your algorithm privately, while Instagram's 'Your Algorithm' tool shows topics shaping recommendations.

Threads and Instagram have launched features allowing users to tweak how content is recommended to them. With Threads, users can now adjust their algorithm without public posts, choosing preferences that last one, three, or seven days. Instagram’s 'Your Algorithm' tool lets you view and customize your feed across the app, showing topics influencing recommendations and letting you fine-tune based on interests. TikTok's 'Manage Topics' tool also gives control over what appears in the 'For You' feed, with AI-powered Smart Keyword Filters introduced in 2025 to automatically limit related content.

Social Media Platforms Give Users Algorithm Control — TechCrunch

Key Points

1

Threads 'Your Algo' feature launched June 16, 2026, allowing private adjustments to recommendation algorithms.

2

Instagram's 'Your Algorithm' tool debuted for Reels in Dec 2025 and now covers all feed types, showing topics shaping recommendations.

3

TikTok’s 'Manage Topics' lets users adjust content related to specific topics like sports or travel using a slider.

4

The TikTok 'Manage Topics' tool includes an 'information' button providing details about each topic's impact on the feed.

5

In 2025, TikTok expanded its 'Manage Topics' with AI-powered Smart Keyword Filters that automatically limit related content.

Why It Matters

If you're using Instagram or TikTok, these new features mean more control over your feed. For example, if you follow a lot of travel accounts but want less sports-related content, you can adjust accordingly. This is especially useful for users who feel their feeds are too crowded with irrelevant topics.

InstagramTikTokThreadsAlgorithm ControlUser Preferences

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does this matter?

If you're using Instagram or TikTok, these new features mean more control over your feed. For example, if you follow a lot of travel accounts but want less sports-related content, you can adjust accordingly. This is especially useful for users who feel their feeds are too crowded with irrelevant topics.

What happened?

Instagram and TikTok are rolling out tools to let users customize their recommendation algorithms. Threads lets you personalize your algorithm privately, while Instagram's 'Your Algorithm' tool shows topics shaping recommendations.

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