Instagram is testing new ways for users to customize their algorithm

At a glance

• Instagram is testing new UI triggers to allow users to tune their content preferences more frequently.
• Proposed features include pull-down menus in the main feed and swipe-up prompts within Reels.
• The updates aim to evolve 'Your Algorithm' from a static setting into a central part of the user experience.

Moving beyond static settings

Instagram is looking to deepen the integration of user preference controls within its core interface. According to a recent update from Instagram head Adam Mosseri, the company is testing several new ways for users to interact with 'Your Algorithm,' a feature originally launched last year to help users manage their content interests.

Currently, the 'Your Algorithm' tool functions largely as a backend setting where users can manage specific topics. However, Mosseri indicated that the goal is to evolve this into a more fluid experience. By making these controls more accessible, Instagram hopes to move away from passive consumption and toward a more active, user-driven discovery process.

New interaction models for feeds and Reels

During a recent demonstration, Mosseri showcased several experimental interaction models that could change how users navigate the app. One proposed method involves a gesture-based approach where pulling down on the main Instagram feed would trigger the 'Your Algorithm' menu, providing instant access to topic adjustments without leaving the feed.

In addition to feed adjustments, Instagram is testing ways to refine the short-form video experience. One prototype shows a swipe-up gesture within Reels that brings up a customization prompt, while another features dedicated buttons placed directly beneath Reels. These buttons would allow users to signal whether they want to see more content similar to the video they just watched, providing high-signal data to the recommendation engine.

User demand for chronological control

Despite these advancements in interest-based tuning, the community response has highlighted a persistent tension in social media design. Following Mosseri's announcement, many users expressed that interest-based customization is secondary to the fundamental desire for chronological feeds. The most common sentiment among commenters was a demand for a way to prioritize content from accounts they explicitly follow.

This tension highlights a broader industry challenge: the struggle to balance highly engaging, AI-driven discovery with the social utility of seeing updates from known connections. While Instagram is doubling down on making its recommendation engine more transparent and controllable, the user base continues to push for more traditional, time-based viewing options that bypass the algorithm entirely.