Instagram is testing new features that would allow users to further customize their content feeds, according to Adam Mosseri, the head of the social media platform. These tests are focused on expanding the functionality and accessibility of the ‘Your Algorithm’ tool, which was introduced last year.
Evolving the ‘Your Algorithm’ Feature
Mosseri stated that Instagram aims to evolve ‘Your Algorithm’ from a simple setting into a more integral part of the user experience. “We want to evolve Your Algorithm from a setting to something that feels central to your experience on Instagram,” Mosseri said. He noted that some of these changes are currently in testing, with others planned for release soon, and some may not be implemented.
The platform is exploring several new methods for users to access and utilize the algorithm customization. One test involves pulling down on the Instagram feed to reveal the ‘Your Algorithm’ menu. Another potential method shown in tests is swiping up from a Reel to access a similar customization prompt. Additionally, Instagram is testing buttons directly below Reels that would allow users to indicate their preference for seeing more or fewer similar videos.
User Feedback and Future Directions
The announcement comes as many users have expressed a desire for greater control over the content they see, particularly a wish for their feeds to prioritize content from accounts they actively follow. Comments on Mosseri’s post frequently echoed this sentiment, with users requesting that the algorithm show more content from people they follow.
The ‘Your Algorithm’ feature, launched by Instagram last year, allows users to specify topics they wish to see more or less of. As the feature is gradually rolled out to more areas of the app, these new tests suggest a move towards more granular and immediate control for users over their personalized content streams.
Mitchell Landsberg is the senior reporter for News Raise and focuses on Technology. Mitchell regularly writes about social media platforms and how influencers, industry and general people use them to communicate and make money.
