Instagram is testing a feature that gives you some direct control over the content you see in your Reels and soon in Explore. The head of the app, Adam Mosseri, shared that you’ll be able to pick topics you like, and remove ones you don’t basically training the algorithm to show more of what interests you and less of what annoys you. Until now the algorithm has been largely opaque. Users have had only indirect control by marking individual posts as “Not Interested”, or limiting sensitive content. With this change, Instagram aims to make things more transparent and reduce the frustration of seeing repetitive or irrelevant posts.
From a user perspective this is good news. You’ll have more say in your feed. If you’re tired of the same kind of Reels or feel one topic dominates your screen, you’ll be able to dial it down. For creators and brands this matters too content relevance may shift. If more users select preferences, what gets surfaced will be less about generic viral loops and more aligned with each user stated interest. That could mean a more niche targeting opportunity.
Instagram has not shared when the wider rollout will happen or exactly which users will get it first. Also, choosing fewer topics might reduce your reach if your content lies outside most users’ selected interest areas. In other words, creators might need to work harder to stay within the interests their target audiences select. Instagram is handing more power back to the viewer. For you as a content writer or ad expert, this shift suggests two things one, audience preference signals may become stronger; two, broad generic content might lose some traction. Adjust your planning accordingly.
