For years, social media giants controlled what users saw in their feeds. While people could follow accounts, like posts or hide content they didn’t enjoy, recommendation algorithms controlled what was shown to them.
However, this is changing as social platforms are now handing over some of their power by allowing users to personalize their algorithms with the help of AI.
The Shift Towards User-Controlled Algorithms
The shift reflects an evolution in how recommendation systems work. Social media feeds are moving away from a one-size-fits-all TV channel and toward something more like a streaming service, where users can tune recommendations to their interests and have more control over what they see.
Threads' 'Your Algo' Feature
On June 16, 2026, Threads launched a new “Your Algo” feature that builds on the platform’s “Dear Algo” tool, which debuted in February. The “Dear Algo” tool lets users influence their feed by publishing a public post, such as “Dear Algo, show me more posts about podcasts,” to indicate the types of content they want to see more or less of in their feed.
With the new “Your Algo” feature, users can make those preferences privately, without having to post publicly. Users can tell Threads they want to see more or less of certain topics and choose how long the request lasts: one, three, or seven days. For example, you could ask to see more baseball content and less stressful news.
Instagram's 'Your Algorithm' Tool
In early June, Instagram launched a new tool that lets you see and control your algorithm across your feed. The tool, called “Your Algorithm,” lets you view the topics that shape your recommendations and customize them to better fit your interests.
The tool launched for the reels feed in December 2025, but is now available across the feed, explore, and reels. Once you access the tool in your settings, you see the topics Instagram thinks you care about the most. You can then tell the app what you’re interested in and what you want to see more or less of, and your recommendations will adapt accordingly.
TikTok's 'Manage Topics' Tool
TikTok features a “Manage Topics” tool that gives you more control over what you see in your “For You” feed. Launched in 2024, you can access the feature in your settings to customize your preferences for different topics, such as sports, travel, humor, current affairs, dance, and food.
You can do so by moving the slider to adjust how much you do or don’t want to see that sort of content in your For You feed. If you are uncertain about which type of videos fall under a category, you can click the “information” button next to a topic.
The Benefits of User-Controlled Algorithms
For users, the advantage of customizable algorithms is a feed tailored to their interests. For social media giants, it’s a way to boost engagement by displaying content that people are most likely to consume.
By giving users more control over what they see in their feeds, platforms like Threads, Instagram, and TikTok are evolving how recommendation systems work. The shift from a one-size-fits-all approach to a user-controlled model is a significant change for the social media landscape.
Source: Original article