Key facts
- Threads, Instagram, and TikTok are giving users more control over their content feeds.
- New tools allow users to train AI-powered recommendation algorithms.
- Threads' 'Your Algo' feature enables private customization of feed preferences.
- Instagram's 'Your Algorithm' tool shows users the topics influencing their recommendations.
- TikTok's 'Manage Topics' tool allows users to adjust preferences for various content categories.
- TikTok's Smart Keyword Filters automatically limit content with related keywords.
Social media platforms are evolving their recommendation systems to give users more control over the content they see. Historically, algorithms dictated feed content, but apps like Threads, Instagram, and TikTok are now introducing tools that allow users to personalize these systems.
Threads launched its 'Dear Algo' tool in February, enabling users to influence their feed by posting requests. This was followed by the 'Your Algo' feature on July 16, 2026, which allows for private customization of content preferences, including topic selection and duration of requests.
Instagram rolled out its 'Your Algorithm' tool in early June, expanding on a previous feature for reels. This tool lets users see the topics shaping their recommendations and adjust them to their interests. Instagram head Adam Mosseri noted that large language models (LLMs) are making these recommendation systems more transparent.
TikTok's 'Manage Topics' tool, launched in 2024, allows users to adjust their preferences for various content categories. In 2025, the platform enhanced this with AI-powered Smart Keyword Filters, which automatically limit content containing related terms, such as synonyms for filtered topics.