How Instagram's Your Algorithm Feature Lets You Tune Your Feed

Instagram added a feature called Your Algorithm that shows users what Instagram thinks they are interested in and gives them controls to change it. The feature sits behind two heart icons in the top-right corner of the Reels tab, where it generates a plain-language summary of the topics Instagram's recommendation system has associated with your account.

Key facts at a glance

• Access it via two heart icons in the top-right corner of the Reels tab
• Shows a plain-language list of topics inferred from your viewing behavior
• You can tell the system to show more or less of specific topics
• Changes apply to the Reels feed only, not the home feed or Explore
• Mobile only, rolling out gradually since early 2026

Where to Find Your Algorithm in the Instagram App

When you open the Reels tab, two overlapping heart icons appear in the top-right corner. Tapping them opens the Your Algorithm screen, which displays a list of topics the system has identified as your interests. These are not categories you selected during onboarding but rather topics inferred from your behavior over time, including what you watch, like, share, save, and how long you pause on specific content.

The feature arrived as part of the navigation redesign that rolled out in early 2026, and Instagram placed it directly on the Reels tab rather than burying it in settings. That placement suggests Instagram wants people to actually find and use it.

How Instagram Displays Your Inferred Topic Interests

The topic list is generated by Instagram's recommendation model, and it reads as a set of plain-language labels like "outdoor photography," "cooking tutorials," or "sneaker culture." The specificity varies quite a bit, since some labels are broad while others are surprisingly narrow.

The list is not static either. It updates as your behavior changes, so if you start watching a new type of content consistently the system will eventually add it. If you stop engaging with a topic it should fade out, though Instagram has not published details on how quickly that happens.

How to Adjust Your Instagram Reels Recommendations

Users can interact with the topic list to adjust what the Reels feed prioritizes. The interface lets you indicate which topics you want to see more or less of, which is different from the existing Not Interested button on individual posts because it operates at the topic level rather than the post level.

There is an important limitation to keep in mind, though. Tuning Your Algorithm changes what the Reels feed shows you, but it does not affect the home feed, Stories, or Explore in the same direct way. Instagram has not confirmed whether adjustments propagate across other surfaces, although some spillover would be reasonable to expect given that the underlying recommendation model is shared.

Why Instagram Added Algorithm Transparency Controls

The feature is largely a response to regulatory pressure around algorithmic transparency, particularly from the EU's Digital Services Act. The DSA requires platforms to give users meaningful information about how recommendations work and to provide options for non-profiled feeds, so Your Algorithm serves as Instagram's answer to the "meaningful information" requirement.

But it also serves a product goal, because users who feel in control of their feed are more likely to stay in Instagram. If the algorithm shows you content you did not ask for you leave, whereas if it lets you correct course you stay. That makes the feature both a compliance mechanism and a retention tool at the same time.

FAQ

Does this feature change what my followers see? No. Your Algorithm only affects your own Reels feed and has no impact on how your content is distributed to others.

Can I reset my algorithm entirely? Instagram does not currently offer a full reset through this feature. You can adjust individual topics, but there is no "start over" button.

Is this available on desktop? No. Your Algorithm is a mobile-only feature accessible through the Reels tab in the Instagram app.

Does tuning my algorithm affect ads? Instagram has not confirmed whether topic adjustments influence ad targeting. The feature is described as affecting organic content recommendations only, though the underlying interest data likely overlaps with ad targeting signals.

Why can I not see the feature yet? The rollout is gradual, so if your app is up to date and you still do not see the heart icons on the Reels tab, the feature may not have reached your region yet.